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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
Exercise 1 of 3
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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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How Well Do You Know 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.
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kang1generous
糠kang1chaff, bran, husk; poor
槺kang1warehouse, large room
鱇
嵻
漮
穅
躿
鏮
Words Containing This Character16
健康jiànkānghealth
康复kāngfùto recuperate康復
康Kānghealthy
小康xiǎokāngwell-off
康熙Kangxi, title of the reign (1661-1722) of the Kangxi Emperor 聖祖|圣祖[Shèngzǔ]
安康Ankang prefecture-level city in Shaanxi
尼康Nikon corporation
康涅狄格州Connecticut, US state
康佳Kongka (brand)
康奈尔Cornell (US University)康奈爾
康涅狄格Connecticut, US state
康乃馨carnation or clove pink
富士康Foxconn Technology Group
威斯康星州Wisconsin, US state
康德Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), German philosopher
奥康纳O'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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