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March 24, 2026
康Kāng(Kang1)
The character 康 (kāng) primarily means 'healthy' or 'peaceful.' It is often used in contexts relating to health, well-being, and tranquility, making it a positive term in both personal and societal settings. It can also serve as a surname, which is common among Chinese families.
Strokes11Radical广Frequency#4695DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, concepts of health and peace are deeply valued, often reflected in sayings and practices that promote harmony in life. The character 康 embodies this cultural emphasis on a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene landscape (康) where people are living healthily and peacefully. The character's components can be broken down: the left part resembles a person (亻) while the right part (康) suggests a feeling of abundance and tranquility, reinforcing the idea of health and peace.
Meanings of 康
Kāng(Kang1)
1healthy
2peaceful
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About 康
康Simplified
11Strokes
广Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#4695Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 康
Podcast: 康
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AI study notes for 康
Quick Contrast
安 (ān) - use 康 (kāng) when emphasizing health and well-being, while 安 (ān) focuses more on peace and safety.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 康 with other health-related terms. Remember to use 康 in contexts that emphasize health and peace rather than in more clinical or technical discussions. It is generally used in both formal and informal registers.
HSK Study Tips
While 康 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other health-related words at the same level, such as 健 (jiàn) meaning 'healthy' or 'strong.' Focus on how 康 can be used in phrases that describe well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 康 in contexts that require more technical health vocabulary, such as 'disease' (病, bìng). Instead, use 康 only to refer to health in a positive sense, as in '健康的生活' (jiànkāng de shēnghuó) meaning 'a healthy life.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 康
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Knowing 康 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 康 (kāng) primarily means 'healthy' or 'peaceful.' It is often used in contexts relating to health, well-being, and tranquility, making it a positive term in both personal and societal settings. It can also serve as a surname, which is common among Chinese families.
When to use 康
Learners often confuse 康 with other health-related terms. Remember to use 康 in contexts that emphasize health and peace rather than in more clinical or technical discussions. It is generally used in both formal and informal registers.
康 or something close to it
安 (ān) - use 康 (kāng) when emphasizing health and well-being, while 安 (ān) focuses more on peace and safety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 康 in contexts that require more technical health vocabulary, such as 'disease' (病, bìng). Instead, use 康 only to refer to health in a positive sense, as in '健康的生活' (jiànkāng de shēnghuó) meaning 'a healthy life.'
Write 康
康
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Grammar patterns of 康
康 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 5 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.
Edwin H. Conger was envoy extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
3
一杯红酒有益健康。
yī bēi hóngjiǔ yǒuyì jiànkāng。
A glass of red wine keeps you in the pink.
4
康拉德·布莱克举办了一次远超人们预期的精彩聚会。
Kāng lā dé· bù lái kè jǔbàn le yī cì yuǎn chāo rénmen yùqī de jīngcǎi jùhuì。
Conrad Black gave an excellent party that surpassed expectations.
5
他牵着迪康的手把他领进屋。
tā qiān zhe dí Kāng de shǒu bǎ tā lǐng jìn wū。
He took Dickon by the hand to lead him into the house.
6
他像跳康康舞一样踢着腿。
tā xiàng tiào Kāng Kāng wǔ yíyàng tī zhe tuǐ。
He was kicking his legs like a Can Can dancer.
7
分娩过程最终非常顺利，生了个健康的男婴。
fēn miǎn guòchéng zuìzhōng fēicháng shùnlì， shēng le gè jiànkāng de nán yīng。
In the end, it was an easy delivery: a fine baby boy.
8
康蒂跪下来虔诚地用手在胸前画了个十字。
Kāng dì guì xiàlái qiánchéng dì yòng shǒu zài xiōng qián huà le gè shí zì。
Conti kneeled and crossed himself piously.
9
她突然想到康妮是个合适人选。
tā tūrán xiǎngdào Kāng nī shì gè héshì rénxuǎn。
Connie suddenly struck her as a logical candidate.
10
一剂好的补品将有助于身体康复。
yī jì hǎode bǔ pǐn jiāng yǒuzhùyú shēntǐ kāngfù。
A good dose of tonic will help you to pick up.
11
康先生是我们公司的项目经理，他的管理能力很强。
Kāng xiānsheng shì wǒmen gōngsī de xiàngmù jīnglǐ, tā de guǎnlǐ nénglì hěn qiáng.
Mr. Kang is the project manager of our company, and his management skills are excellent.
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Cultural Notes for 康
💡Did you know?
The character 康 is often used in names and phrases related to health, such as 健康 (jiànkāng), which means 'health'. It reflects the cultural significance of well-being in Chinese society.
Word Family of 康
Compounds9
慷kānggenerous
糠kāngchaff, bran, husk; poor
槺kāngwarehouse, large room
鱇kāng
嵻kāng
漮kāng
穅kāng
躿kāng
鏮kāng
Words containing this character16
健康jiànkānghealth
康复kāngfùto recuperate康復
康Kānghealthy
小康xiǎokāngwell-off
康熙kāngxīKangxi, title of the reign (1661-1722) of the Kangxi Emperor 聖祖|圣祖[Shèngzǔ]
安康ānkāngAnkang prefecture-level city in Shaanxi
尼康níkāngNikon corporation
康涅狄格州kāngnièdígézhōuConnecticut, US state
康佳kāngjiāKongka (brand)
康奈尔kāngnài’ěrCornell (US University)康奈爾
康涅狄格kāngnièdígéConnecticut, US state
康乃馨kāngnǎixīncarnation or clove pink
富士康fùshìkāngFoxconn Technology Group
威斯康星州wēisīkāngxīngzhōuWisconsin, US state
康德kāngdéImmanuel Kant (1724-1804), German philosopher
奥康纳àokāngnàO'Connor (name)奧康納
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 康
What does 慷 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 康
Related words include 健康 (jiànkāng), which means 'health,' and 安康 (ānkāng), meaning 'peace and health.' Both terms emphasize well-being and a peaceful state.
Yes, 康 (Kāng) is a common surname in China. It ranks among the top surnames and is also associated with various historical figures and families.
You can use 康 (kāng) in sentences like '我希望你健康快乐' (Wǒ xīwàng nǐ jiànkāng kuàilè), which means 'I wish you health and happiness.' It can also be used in phrases like '康复' (kāngfù), meaning 'to recover or rehabilitate.'
康 (kāng) means 'peaceful,' 'healthy,' or 'abundant' in Chinese. It is often used in contexts relating to health and well-being, as well as in surnames.
Common phrases include '健康康' (jiànkāng) which means 'health' and '康复' (kāngfù) meaning 'rehabilitation'.
You might hear 康 used in greetings or well wishes, such as '祝您身体健康' (zhù nín shēntǐ jiànkāng) meaning 'Wishing you good health.'
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