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嶂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嶂zhàngcliff; the barrier formed by a mountain rangezg, 14 strokes, radical 山
嶂zhàngrange of peaksunknown, 14 strokes, radical 山
zhàng(zhang4) T4
  1. 1cliff; the barrier formed by a mountain range
  2. 2range of peaks
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

嶂zhàng(zhang4)

The character 嶂 (zhàng) refers to a cliff or a barrier formed by a mountain range. It is often used to describe rugged terrain and natural formations that rise steeply, symbolizing obstacles or challenges in both a physical and metaphorical sense. In literature, it may evoke feelings of awe or intimidation when confronted with nature's grandeur.

Strokes14Radical山
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains and cliffs are often seen as symbols of strength and endurance. They are frequently referenced in poetry and art, representing both physical beauty and spiritual challenges that one must overcome.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'zhàng' (cliff) where the mountain peaks form a protective barrier. Visualize standing at the edge of a steep drop, the jagged rocks resembling the character's form, with the top part suggesting a mountain peak and the bottom part grounding it in the earth.

Meanings of 嶂

zhàng(zhang4)
1cliff; the barrier formed by a mountain range
2range of peaks
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嶂

嶂Simplified
14Strokes
山Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嶂

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Podcast: 嶂

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AI Study Notes for 嶂

Usage Notes

While 嶂 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears in literary contexts and descriptions of landscapes. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases related to nature or geographical features.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嶂 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your descriptions of landscapes in Chinese. Focus on learning related terms like 山 (shān, mountain) and 峭壁 (qiàobì, cliff) to connect this character with broader vocabulary about nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 嶂 with similar characters that represent different types of natural formations, such as 山 (shān, mountain). Always ensure you are using the correct character based on the context you intend to convey.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嶂

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Etymology of 嶂

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

mountain

Semantic (meaning)山
+
Phonetic (sound)章
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 嶂

  1. 1The meaning half山 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half章 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymountain
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 嶂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 嶂?

Decomposition of 嶂

IDS Structure⿰山章
嶂Full Character
=
山Shan1
left
章Zhang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嶂?

How to say cliff; the barrier formed by a mountain range in Chinese

“cliff; the barrier formed by a mountain range” in Chinese is嶂zhàng

The character 嶂 (zhàng) refers to a cliff or a barrier formed by a mountain range. It is often used to describe rugged terrain and natural formations that rise steeply, symbolizing obstacles or challenges in both a physical and metaphorical sense. In literature, it may evoke feelings of awe or intimidation when confronted with nature's grandeur.

When to use 嶂

While 嶂 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears in literary contexts and descriptions of landscapes. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases related to nature or geographical features.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 嶂 with similar characters that represent different types of natural formations, such as 山 (shān, mountain). Always ensure you are using the correct character based on the context you intend to convey.

Write 嶂

嶂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 嶂

Words Containing This Character3
嶂zhàngcliff
层峦叠嶂range upon range of mountains (idiom)層巒疊嶂
重峦叠嶂range upon range of mountains (idiom)重巒疊嶂
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 嶂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嶂

It is pronounced as zhàng, with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 嶂?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.