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殃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殃yāngcalamityvg, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #42545, Very Hard
殃yāngmisfortune, disaster, calamityvg, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #42545, Very Hard
yāng(yang1)yang T1
  1. 1calamity
  2. 2misfortune, disaster, calamity
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March 24, 2026

殃yāng(yang1)

The character 殃 (yāng) refers to calamity or misfortune, often implying a sense of disaster that befalls individuals or communities. It is commonly used in literary and formal contexts to describe adverse events or unfortunate circumstances that lead to suffering or loss.

Strokes9Radical歹Frequency#42545DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of calamity is often tied to moral lessons or the idea of karma, where misfortune can be seen as a consequence of past actions. This reflects the historical belief in the connection between human behavior and fate.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'yang' (sun) casting a shadow of misfortune over a village. The character 殃 has a radical that resembles a 'death' component, suggesting that calamities often bring about dire consequences. Visualize the sun dimming to remember that calamity can overshadow joy.

Meanings of 殃

yāng(yang1)
1calamity
2misfortune, disaster, calamity
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 殃

殃Simplified
9Strokes
歹Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#42545Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殃

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Podcast: 殃

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AI Study Notes for 殃

Quick Contrast

灾 (zāi) — use 殃 (yāng) when emphasizing misfortune's impact on individuals or communities, while 灾 (zāi) generally refers to disasters or calamities in a broader sense.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 殃 in contexts that specifically refer to misfortune or disaster, as it carries a serious tone. It's often used in formal discussions or literary texts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '灾难与殃' (disaster and calamity).

HSK Study Tips

While 殃 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for students to learn it alongside related terms like 灾 (zāi, disaster) or 难 (nán, difficulty). Focus on understanding the nuances of calamity and how it interacts with other negative terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殃 with similar characters like 祸 (huò) or 灾 (zāi), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 殃 specifically emphasizes calamity rather than just any disaster.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殃

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Etymology of 殃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 歹 represents the meaning and 央 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

death

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)央
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

殃 = 歹 + 央. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 殃

IDS Structure⿰歹央
殃Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
央yang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 殃?

How to say calamity in Chinese

“calamity” in Chinese is殃yāng

The character 殃 (yāng) refers to calamity or misfortune, often implying a sense of disaster that befalls individuals or communities. It is commonly used in literary and formal contexts to describe adverse events or unfortunate circumstances that lead to suffering or loss.

When to use 殃

Be careful to use 殃 in contexts that specifically refer to misfortune or disaster, as it carries a serious tone. It's often used in formal discussions or literary texts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '灾难与殃' (disaster and calamity).

殃 or something close to it

灾 (zāi) — use 殃 (yāng) when emphasizing misfortune's impact on individuals or communities, while 灾 (zāi) generally refers to disasters or calamities in a broader sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殃 with similar characters like 祸 (huò) or 灾 (zāi), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 殃 specifically emphasizes calamity rather than just any disaster.

Write 殃

殃

Practice writing 殃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 殃

殃 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 2 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 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

风慵懒地吹过树木,像个病____殃的孩子。

Down through the trees the wind whooshed weakly, like a sick child.

Example Sentences for 殃 (2)

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1
风慵懒地吹过树木,像个病殃殃的孩子。

fēng yōng lǎn dì chuī guò shù mù, , xiàng gè bìng yāng yāng de hái。

Down through the trees the wind whooshed weakly, like a sick child.
2
城门失火,殃及池鱼.

chéng mén shī huǒ, , yāng jí chí.

Innocent people get into trouble on account of others'misfortune.

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Word Family of 殃

Words Containing This Character5
遭殃zāoyāngto suffer a calamity
殃及to bring disaster to
殃yāngcalamity
祸国殃民to damage the country and cause suffering to the people (idiom)禍國殃民
病病殃殃seriously ill
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 殃

What does 遭殃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殃

No, 殃 is more commonly found in literature or formal writing rather than casual speech.

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