HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
to accuse
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
to charge
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
to sue
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
to invert a container to empty it
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
(suffix) (slang) buff
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
enthusiast
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
devotee
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
控
kòng
-phile or -philia
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1749, Very Hard
kòng(kong4)kong T4
1to control
2to accuse
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March 24, 2026
控kòng(kong4)
The character 控 (kòng) primarily means 'to control,' but it also has legal connotations such as 'to accuse' or 'to sue.' It is commonly used in contexts involving authority or regulation, as well as in colloquial terms to denote a strong interest or enthusiasm towards a specific subject or hobby.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#1749DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of control is often tied to social hierarchy and authority. The use of 控 in legal terms reflects the structured nature of Chinese legal practices, where accusations must follow formal protocols.
Memory Tip
Imagine a control tower overseeing an airport. The tower (控) symbolizes control (kòng) over the flights, just as this character represents the act of managing or dominating something. Visualize the tower inverting its shape to spill out all the restrictions it imposes, linking to its meaning of 'to empty' or 'to sue.'
Meanings of 控
kòng(kong4)
1to control
2to accuse
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 控 means.
About 控
控Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1749Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 控
Podcast: 控
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AI Study Notes for 控
Quick Contrast
控 (kòng) vs 管 (guǎn) — use 控 when emphasizing control or authority, while 管 focuses on management or administration.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 控 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to context. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but caution is needed when using it in legal contexts to ensure clarity. Common collocations include 控制 (kòngzhì - to control) and 控告 (kònggào - to accuse).
HSK Study Tips
Although 控 is not currently at an official HSK level, it relates closely to other verbs of action, such as 管 (guǎn - to manage) and 使 (shǐ - to make). Students should focus on understanding the nuances of control and accusation in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 控 incorrectly by assuming it only means 'to accuse' without recognizing its broader meanings. For example, saying '我控他' (I control him) can be misleading; it should be used in context with proper nouns or subjects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 控
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 控 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.
控 = 扌 + 空. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 控
IDS Structure⿰扌空
控Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
空kong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 控?
How to say to control in Chinese
“to control” in Chinese is控kòng
The character 控 (kòng) primarily means 'to control,' but it also has legal connotations such as 'to accuse' or 'to sue.' It is commonly used in contexts involving authority or regulation, as well as in colloquial terms to denote a strong interest or enthusiasm towards a specific subject or hobby.
When to use 控
Learners often confuse 控 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to context. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but caution is needed when using it in legal contexts to ensure clarity. Common collocations include 控制 (kòngzhì - to control) and 控告 (kònggào - to accuse).
控 or something close to it
控 (kòng) vs 管 (guǎn) — use 控 when emphasizing control or authority, while 管 focuses on management or administration.
What learners get wrong
Learners often use 控 incorrectly by assuming it only means 'to accuse' without recognizing its broader meanings. For example, saying '我控他' (I control him) can be misleading; it should be used in context with proper nouns or subjects.
Write 控
控
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Practice writing 控 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 控
控 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
用这种方法____制你的狗不起作用。
This is an ineffective method of controlling your dog.
Common Confusions with 控
控vs孔
kǒng
Similar shape but different meaning.
控vs空
kōng
Similar pronunciation and shape, but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to control”?
or
Usage Notes for 控
Misuse of 控 in legal contextsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 控 when referring to legal actions. It specifically refers to 'to accuse' or 'to sue', and should not be used interchangeably with other terms for legal actions.
1
他控诉了嫌疑人。
He accused the suspect.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
He balanced his budgets by rigid control over public expenditure.
10
他将因毒品交易的指控受到军法审判。
tā jiāng yīn dú pǐn jiāo yì de zhǐ kòng shòu dào jūn fǎ shěn pàn。
He is due to face a court-martial on drugs charges.
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Word Family of 控
Words Containing This Character20
控制kòngzhìcontrol
控kòngto control
指控accusation
监控jiānkòngto monitor監控
控股to own a controlling number of shares in a company
调控tiáokòngto regulate調控
失控shīkòngto go out of control
宏观调控macro-control宏觀調控
控告kònggàoto accuse
遥控yáokòngremote control遙控
控诉to accuse控訴
遥控器remote control遙控器
掌控to control
控制室control room
控制权controlling right控制權
自控automated
控制台control desk控制臺
测控measurement and control測控
自动控制automatic control自動控制
程控programmed
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 控
What does 控制 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 控
控 (kòng) can mean 'to control' when referring to managing something, 'to accuse' when discussing legal matters, or 'to charge' in a formal complaint. It can also imply the act of suing someone. In slang usage, it serves as a suffix to describe someone who is a fan or enthusiast of something.
Yes, 控 (kòng) is commonly used in legal contexts in Chinese. It can mean to accuse someone of a crime or to bring a lawsuit against them. For example, '控告' (kònggào) means 'to accuse' or 'to file a lawsuit.'
控 (kòng) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'to control,' 'to accuse,' and 'to charge.' It can also refer to the act of suing someone in a legal context. Additionally, in slang, it can be used as a suffix meaning 'buff' or 'fan.'
控 (kòng) can be used in various contexts. For example, you can say '他控诉她' (tā kòngsù tā) which means 'He accused her.' You can also use it to express control, as in '我控制这个情况' (wǒ kòngzhì zhège qíngkuàng), meaning 'I control this situation.'
In legal contexts, 控 means 'to accuse' or 'to sue,' indicating a formal action taken against someone.
Yes, 控 can be used informally to describe someone who is very passionate about a hobby, like a 'game 控' for gaming enthusiasts.
控 specifically implies a sense of control or authority, whereas characters like 管 (guǎn) focus more on managing or overseeing.
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