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颡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
颡sǎngforehead; to kowtowg, 16 strokes, radical 页
sǎng(sang3)sang T3
  1. 1forehead; to kowtow
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March 24, 2026

颡(顙)sǎng(sang3)

The character 颡 (sǎng) primarily refers to the forehead, the part of the face located above the eyebrows. It can also imply the act of kowtowing, which is a traditional gesture of deep respect in Chinese culture. While it is less commonly used in everyday conversation, understanding this character can provide insights into cultural practices and expressions of reverence.

Strokes16Radical页
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, kowtowing (represented by the character 颡) is a significant act of respect, often performed in front of elders or during formal ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals. Understanding this character provides a glimpse into the importance of hierarchy and respect in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a large 'saw' (sounds like 'sang') cutting across a 'forehead' (the character's meaning) to create a smooth surface. The shape of the character 颡 has a 'roof' (亠) suggesting protection, akin to how the forehead protects the brain, and the 'mouth' (口) representing the act of speaking or expressing respect.

Meanings of 颡

sǎng(sang3)
1forehead; to kowtow
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 颡

颡Simplified
顙Traditional
16Strokes
页Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 颡

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AI study notes for 颡

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 颡 with similar-sounding characters like 桑 (sāng), which means mulberry. This character is more formal and may not be widely used in casual conversation. It often appears in literary or historical contexts, especially related to respect and traditional practices.

HSK Study Tips

Though 颡 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be helpful to learn as it connects with other body parts like 头 (tóu, head) and 面 (miàn, face) at the beginner level. Focus on pronunciation and contextual usage to build a stronger vocabulary base.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 颡 with similar characters like 桑 (sāng), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我用桑来尊敬' (I use mulberry to show respect) instead of the correct form with 颡 would be a mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 颡

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Etymology of 颡

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

head

Semantic (meaning)页
+
Phonetic (sound)桑
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

颡 = 页 + 桑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 颡

IDS Structure⿰桑页
颡Full character
=
桑Sang1
left
页ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 颡?

How to say forehead; to kowtow in Chinese

“forehead; to kowtow” in Chinese is颡sǎng

The character 颡 (sǎng) primarily refers to the forehead, the part of the face located above the eyebrows. It can also imply the act of kowtowing, which is a traditional gesture of deep respect in Chinese culture. While it is less commonly used in everyday conversation, understanding this character can provide insights into cultural practices and expressions of reverence.

When to use 颡

Be careful not to confuse 颡 with similar-sounding characters like 桑 (sāng), which means mulberry. This character is more formal and may not be widely used in casual conversation. It often appears in literary or historical contexts, especially related to respect and traditional practices.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 颡 with similar characters like 桑 (sāng), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我用桑来尊敬' (I use mulberry to show respect) instead of the correct form with 颡 would be a mistake.

Write 颡

颡

Practice writing 颡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 颡

Words containing this character1
颡sǎngforehead顙

Frequently asked questions about 颡

颡 means forehead, and it can also refer to the act of kowtowing, a gesture of respect.

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