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殤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殤shāngto die young; national mourningzg, 15 strokes, radical 歹
shāng(shang1)shang T1
  1. 1to die young; national mourning
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March 24, 2026

殤shāng(shang1)

The character 殤 (shāng) means to die young or to mourn a national loss. It is often used in contexts related to premature death, especially in the context of national tragedies or significant events that evoke collective mourning. This character conveys a sense of sorrow and loss in a communal setting.

Strokes15Radical歹
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, national mourning is often observed during memorial days or after significant tragedies, such as natural disasters. The character 殤 captures the communal aspect of grief that is deeply rooted in traditional values of solidarity and remembrance.

Memory tip

Imagine a young person (the radical '木' for tree, representing life) who has tragically 'fallen' and is mourned by a nation. Picture a flag at half-mast, symbolizing the collective sadness, which can help you remember the sound 'shāng' correlates with sorrow.

Meanings of 殤

shāng(shang1)
1to die young; national mourning
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 殤

殤Simplified
15Strokes
歹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殤

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Podcast: 殤

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AI study notes for 殤

Usage Notes

Be cautious about using 殤 in informal contexts, as it carries a heavy emotional weight. Common collocations include terms related to national mourning ceremonies or commemorative events. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have more neutral meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 殤 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of themes related to loss and mourning in Chinese culture. Focus on related characters such as 哀 (āi, to mourn) and 亡 (wáng, to perish) for a broader vocabulary around this theme.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殤 with the more general word for death, 死 (sǐ). For example, saying '他年轻死了' (tā niánqīng sǐle) instead of using 殤 can lessen the emotional impact intended in contexts of mourning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殤

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Etymology of 殤

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

death

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

Origin

殤 = 歹 + 昜. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 殤

IDS Structure⿰歹⿱?昜
殤Full character
=
歹dai3
left
昜yang2
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 殤?

How to say to die young; national mourning in Chinese

“to die young; national mourning” in Chinese is殤shāng

The character 殤 (shāng) means to die young or to mourn a national loss. It is often used in contexts related to premature death, especially in the context of national tragedies or significant events that evoke collective mourning. This character conveys a sense of sorrow and loss in a communal setting.

When to use 殤

Be cautious about using 殤 in informal contexts, as it carries a heavy emotional weight. Common collocations include terms related to national mourning ceremonies or commemorative events. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have more neutral meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殤 with the more general word for death, 死 (sǐ). For example, saying '他年轻死了' (tā niánqīng sǐle) instead of using 殤 can lessen the emotional impact intended in contexts of mourning.

Write 殤

殤

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

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Word Family of 殤

Words containing this character1
殇shāngwar dead殤
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 殤

What does 殇 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 殤

It is typically used during national mourning events or in literature discussing tragic and premature deaths.

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