HSK 7, zg, 17 strokes, radical 疒, rank #7645, Very Hard
癌
ái
carcinoma
HSK 7, zg, 17 strokes, radical 疒, rank #7645, Very Hard
癌
ái
also pr. [yán]
HSK 7, zg, 17 strokes, radical 疒, rank #7645, Very Hard
癌
ái
also pr. [yan2]
HSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, radical 疒, rank #7645, Very Hard
ái(ai2)ai T2
1cancer
2carcinoma
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
癌ái(ai2)
The character 癌 (ái) refers to cancer, specifically carcinoma, which is a type of malignancy that originates in epithelial cells. It is commonly used in medical contexts to discuss various forms of cancer and is often paired with other terms to specify types, such as breast cancer (乳癌) or lung cancer (肺癌). Understanding this term is crucial for discussing health issues in a Chinese-speaking context.
Strokes17Radical疒Frequency#7645DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Cancer awareness has increased in China, leading to more discussions about prevention and treatment. The character 癌 is often featured in health campaigns and public health discussions, reflecting a growing concern for health issues in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character 癌 (ái) as a sickly tree (the radical 疒 represents illness) that is being choked by a vine of cancerous cells. The pronunciation 'ái' can be remembered by thinking of the phrase 'I' (sounds like 'ái') feel sick when I hear the word 'cancer.'
Meanings of 癌
ái(ai2)
1cancer
2carcinoma
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 癌 means.
About 癌
癌Simplified
17Strokes
疒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#7645Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 癌
Podcast: 癌
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AI Study Notes for 癌
Usage Notes
When using 癌 (ái), be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in healthcare discussions. Common collocations include 乳癌 (breast cancer) and 肺癌 (lung cancer). Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing health issues.
HSK Study Tips
While 癌 (ái) is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 terms related to health and illness, such as 病 (bìng - disease) and 医生 (yīshēng - doctor). Students should focus on recognizing compound terms involving 癌 to expand their medical vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 癌 (ái) with 恼 (nǎo), which means to annoy or irritate. For example, saying '我有恼' (wǒ yǒu nǎo) meaning 'I have cancer' is incorrect; it should be '我有癌' (wǒ yǒu ái).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 癌
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How Well Do You Know 癌?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 癌 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.
癌 = 疒 + 嵒. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 癌
IDS Structure⿸疒嵒
癌Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
嵒yan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 癌?
How to say cancer in Chinese
“cancer” in Chinese is癌ái
The character 癌 (ái) refers to cancer, specifically carcinoma, which is a type of malignancy that originates in epithelial cells. It is commonly used in medical contexts to discuss various forms of cancer and is often paired with other terms to specify types, such as breast cancer (乳癌) or lung cancer (肺癌). Understanding this term is crucial for discussing health issues in a Chinese-speaking context.
When to use 癌
When using 癌 (ái), be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in healthcare discussions. Common collocations include 乳癌 (breast cancer) and 肺癌 (lung cancer). Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing health issues.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 癌 (ái) with 恼 (nǎo), which means to annoy or irritate. For example, saying '我有恼' (wǒ yǒu nǎo) meaning 'I have cancer' is incorrect; it should be '我有癌' (wǒ yǒu ái).
Write 癌
癌
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Practice writing 癌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 癌
癌 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
几年后，卡佳因患____症在伦敦病逝。
A few years later, Katya succumbed to cancer in London.
