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March 24, 2026
癢yǎng(yang3)
The character 癢 (yǎng) refers to the sensation of itchiness or tickling that often prompts a desire to scratch. It is commonly used in medical contexts, as well as in everyday conversation when discussing skin irritations or allergies.
Strokes20Radical疒Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the sensation of itchiness can be seen as a sign of imbalance in the body, often linked to external factors like humidity or internal factors like blood deficiency, emphasizing the holistic view of health.
Memory Tip
Think of 癢 (yǎng) as representing a cat (the radical 犬) scratching itself when it feels itchy. The sound 'yǎng' can remind you of the 'yank' action of scratching to relieve that itch.
Meanings of 癢
yǎng(yang3)
1to itch; to tickle
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 癢
癢Simplified
20Strokes
疒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 癢
Podcast: 癢
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AI Study Notes for 癢
Quick Contrast
痒 (yǎng) vs 痛 (tòng) — use 癢 for itchiness, while 痛 refers to pain.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 癢 (yǎng) as representing a cat (the radical 犬) scratching itself when it feels itchy. The sound 'yǎng' can remind you of the 'yank' action of scratching to relieve that itch.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 癢 with 痒, which is a common mistake. Remember, 癢 is used in more formal contexts, while 痒 is more colloquial. Always be mindful of your tone, as the third tone is crucial in distinguishing this word.
HSK Study Tips
Although 癢 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects to other body-related vocabulary. Focus on learning related terms like 皮肤 (pífū, skin) and 疼 (téng, pain) to enhance your understanding of bodily sensations.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the sensation of itchiness can be seen as a sign of imbalance in the body, often linked to external factors like humidity or internal factors like blood deficiency, emphasizing the holistic view of health.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to use 癢 in informal conversations; instead, 痒 is preferred. Additionally, some learners may mispronounce it as yáng, which changes the meaning entirely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 癢
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Cultural Notes for 癢
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the sensation of itchiness can be seen as a sign of imbalance in the body, often linked to external factors like humidity or internal factors like blood deficiency, emphasizing the holistic view of health.
Word Family of 癢
Words Containing This Character16
痒yǎngto itch
痒痒to itch癢癢
瘙痒to itch瘙癢
发痒to tickle發癢
无关痛痒not to affect sb無關痛癢
手痒(fig.) to itch (to do sth)手癢
不痛不痒superficial不痛不癢
搔痒to tickle搔癢
痛痒pain and itch痛癢
隔靴搔痒ineffectual隔靴搔癢
挠痒痒to tickle撓癢癢
抓痒to scratch an itch抓癢
怕痒to be ticklish怕癢
痒痒挠backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)癢癢撓
不关痛痒unimportant不關痛癢
虱多不痒Troubles never come singly.蝨多不癢
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 痒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 癢
癢 means 'to itch' or 'to tickle' and describes the sensation that makes you want to scratch.
It is pronounced as 'yǎng' with a third tone.
Yes, it can be used in casual settings, especially when talking about skin irritations.
