seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #57437, Very Hard
庚
gēng
seventh in order
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #57437, Very Hard
庚
gēng
letter "G" or roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #57437, Very Hard
庚
gēng
ancient Chinese compass point: 255°
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #57437, Very Hard
庚
gēng
hepta
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #57437, Very Hard
gēng(geng1) T1
1age; 7th heavenly stem
2seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
庚gēng(geng1)
The character 庚 (gēng) refers to the seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems, a traditional Chinese system used for timekeeping and calculations. It can also denote 'age' in certain contexts, distinguishing it from other similar characters. Commonly, it appears in discussions about Chinese astrology, calendars, and the cyclical nature of time.
Strokes8Radical广Frequency#57437DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the Heavenly Stems are used in conjunction with the Earthly Branches to create a 60-year cycle that influences many aspects of life, including astrology and the lunar calendar. 庚 is particularly significant in the context of the Chinese zodiac.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old sage (the character 庚) who has reached the age of 7 (gēng sounds like 'gang') in a mystical forest. He holds a sign that reads 'VII' to indicate his place in a sequence. The roof (亠) of the character represents wisdom and guidance, while the base (土) symbolizes the earth he stands upon.
Meanings of 庚
gēng(geng1)
1age; 7th heavenly stem
2seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 庚
庚Simplified
8Strokes
广Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 庚
Podcast: 庚
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AI Study Notes for 庚
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old sage (the character 庚) who has reached the age of 7 (gēng sounds like 'gang') in a mystical forest. He holds a sign that reads 'VII' to indicate his place in a sequence. The roof (亠) of the character represents wisdom and guidance, while the base (土) symbolizes the earth he stands upon.
Usage Notes
When using 庚, it is important to note its formal context, primarily in astrology or timekeeping. Avoid confusing it with similar characters like '辛' (xīn), which is the eighth stem. It is often used in academic or historical texts, so ensure proper tone when discussing this topic.
HSK Study Tips
Although 庚 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to the study of traditional Chinese culture and calendars, which are often part of HSK Level 3 and above discussions. Students should focus on understanding the broader context of Heavenly Stems and their significance in Chinese culture.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the Heavenly Stems are used in conjunction with the Earthly Branches to create a 60-year cycle that influences many aspects of life, including astrology and the lunar calendar. 庚 is particularly significant in the context of the Chinese zodiac.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 庚 with similar-sounding characters, such as '更' (gèng). For example, saying '我今年是更' (wǒ jīnnián shì gèng) instead of '我今年是庚' (wǒ jīnnián shì gēng) can lead to misunderstandings about age and time references.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 庚
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Grammar Patterns of 庚
庚 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 6 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.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
贵____?
May I know your age?
Example Sentences for 庚 (1)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
贵庚?
guì gēng?
May I know your age?
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
May I know your age?
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 庚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the Heavenly Stems are used in conjunction with the Earthly Branches to create a 60-year cycle that influences many aspects of life, including astrology and the lunar calendar. 庚 is particularly significant in the context of the Chinese zodiac.
Word Family of 庚
Words Containing This Character12
庚gēngage
贵庚your age (honorific)貴庚
庚子37th year G1 of the 60-year cycle, e.g. 1960 or 2020
庚辰seventeenth year G5 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 2000 or 2060
华罗庚Hua Luogeng (1910-1985), Chinese number theorist華羅庚
庚戌forty-seventh year G11 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1970 or 2030
庚申fifty-seventh year G9 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1980 or 2040
庚寅twenty-seventh year G3 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 2010 or 2070
庚午seventh year G7 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1990 or 2050
长庚Classical Chinese name for planet Venus in the west after dusk長庚
年庚age
庚糖heptose (CH2O)7, monosaccharide with seven carbon atoms
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 庚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 庚
In astrology, 庚 represents one of the Ten Heavenly Stems and is often associated with specific elements and personality traits.
庚 is used to denote years, months, and days in the traditional Chinese calendar system, marking it as an important reference in historical records.
