HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9541, Very Hard
僵
jiāng
deadlock
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9541, Very Hard
僵
jiāng
stiff (corpse)
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9541, Very Hard
僵
jiāng
still, stiff, motionless
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9541, Very Hard
jiāng(jiang1) T1
1rigid
2deadlock
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March 24, 2026
僵jiāng(jiang1)
The character 僵 (jiāng) typically refers to rigidity or a state of being motionless. It can describe both physical stiffness, such as a corpse, and metaphorical deadlocks in situations where progress cannot be made. This term is often used in discussions about difficult circumstances or figurative 'stiffness' in negotiations.
Strokes15Radical亻Frequency#9541DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese folklore, the concept of a 'stiff' corpse relates to the myth of the 'jiangshi' (僵尸), a reanimated corpse that moves stiffly, reflecting cultural views on death and the afterlife. This character thus connects deeply with traditional stories about the supernatural.
Memory Tip
Imagine a statue (the character's form suggests rigidity) that stands so still it becomes part of the scenery, representing the idea of being motionless or stiff. The pronunciation 'jiāng' can sound like 'jang', akin to a stiff jangle of metal that doesn't move.
Meanings of 僵
jiāng(jiang1)
1rigid
2deadlock
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 僵
僵Simplified
15Strokes
亻Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#9541Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 僵
Podcast: 僵
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AI Study Notes for 僵
Quick Contrast
僵 (jiāng) vs 死 (sǐ) — use 僵 when emphasizing rigidity or immobility, while 死 focuses on the state of being dead.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 僵 (jiāng) with similarly pronounced characters. It is primarily used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to appear more in written language. Common collocations include 僵局 (jiāngjú, deadlock) and 僵硬 (jiāngyìng, stiff).
HSK Study Tips
While 僵 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary about states and conditions such as 硬 (yìng, hard) and 冻 (dòng, freeze). Students should focus on using 僵 in context, especially in discussing obstacles or rigidity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 僵 (jiāng) with 僵硬 (jiāngyìng) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. Remember that 僵 stands alone as a noun, while 僵硬 is an adjective meaning 'stiff'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 僵
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2The sound half畺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayperson
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 僵? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 僵?
Decomposition of 僵
IDS Structure⿰亻畺
僵Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
畺jiang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 僵?
How to say rigid in Chinese
“rigid” in Chinese is僵jiāng
The character 僵 (jiāng) typically refers to rigidity or a state of being motionless. It can describe both physical stiffness, such as a corpse, and metaphorical deadlocks in situations where progress cannot be made. This term is often used in discussions about difficult circumstances or figurative 'stiffness' in negotiations.
When to use 僵
Be careful not to confuse 僵 (jiāng) with similarly pronounced characters. It is primarily used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to appear more in written language. Common collocations include 僵局 (jiāngjú, deadlock) and 僵硬 (jiāngyìng, stiff).
僵 or something close to it
僵 (jiāng) vs 死 (sǐ) — use 僵 when emphasizing rigidity or immobility, while 死 focuses on the state of being dead.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 僵 (jiāng) with 僵硬 (jiāngyìng) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. Remember that 僵 stands alone as a noun, while 僵硬 is an adjective meaning 'stiff'.
Write 僵
僵
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Practice writing 僵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 僵
僵 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
