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栊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
栊lóngcage, pen; gratingg, 9 strokes, radical 木
栊lóngbarunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
栊lónggratingsunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
lóng(long2) T2
  1. 1cage, pen; grating
  2. 2bar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

栊(櫳)lóng(long2)

The character 栊 (lóng) refers to a structure used to confine or contain, such as a cage or a pen. It can also describe grating or bars used in various contexts, often emphasizing a sense of enclosure or restriction.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, cages (栊) were often used for keeping birds as pets, symbolizing both beauty and confinement. This reflects the cultural appreciation for nature and the delicate balance of freedom and captivity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bird (cage) trapped in a long, narrow structure (the character itself resembles a cage with its enclosing lines). The '木' radical suggests wood, hinting that cages are often made from this material, while the pronunciation 'lóng' sounds like 'long', reminding you of the elongated shape of a cage.

Meanings of 栊

lóng(long2)
1cage, pen; grating
2bar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 栊

栊Simplified
櫳Traditional
9Strokes
木Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 栊

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Podcast: 栊

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AI Study Notes for 栊

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 栊 with similar words that describe open spaces or lack of restriction. It is typically used in informal contexts when discussing animal enclosures or security measures. Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 栊 is not directly included in HSK levels, it relates to Level 3 vocabulary concerning animals and their habitats. Students should focus on recognizing the radicals and associated meanings to help expand their vocabulary around similar structures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 栊 with similar characters like 笼 (lóng), which also means cage but has broader usage. Remember that 栊 typically refers to more specific forms of enclosure or grating.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 栊

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Etymology of 栊

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

wood

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 栊

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half龙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 栊? 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 栊?

Decomposition of 栊

IDS Structure⿰木龙
栊Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
龙Long2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 栊?

How to say cage, pen; grating in Chinese

“cage, pen; grating” in Chinese is栊lóng

The character 栊 (lóng) refers to a structure used to confine or contain, such as a cage or a pen. It can also describe grating or bars used in various contexts, often emphasizing a sense of enclosure or restriction.

When to use 栊

Common mistakes include confusing 栊 with similar words that describe open spaces or lack of restriction. It is typically used in informal contexts when discussing animal enclosures or security measures. Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 栊 with similar characters like 笼 (lóng), which also means cage but has broader usage. Remember that 栊 typically refers to more specific forms of enclosure or grating.

Write 栊

栊

Practice writing 栊 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 栊

Words Containing This Character1
栊lóngbar櫳
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 栊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 栊

It translates to 'cage' or 'grating', referring to structures used for confinement.

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