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登 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
dēngto scale (a height)HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto ascendHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto mountHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto publish or recordHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto enter (e.g. in a register)HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto press down with the footHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto step or tread onHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto put on (shoes or trousers) (dialect)HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto be gathered and taken to the threshing ground (old)HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēngto rise, to mount, to board, to climbHSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Medium
dēng(deng1) T1
  1. 1to scale (a height)
  2. 2to ascend
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
dēng(deng1)

The character 登 (dēng) primarily means 'to ascend' or 'to scale a height.' It is commonly used in contexts involving climbing, boarding, or entering something, such as a vehicle or a register. Additionally, it can refer to the act of publishing or recording information.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#1959DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, climbing mountains has significant symbolism, often representing personal growth and overcoming obstacles. Mountains are revered in Chinese history, and 登 is frequently used in literature and poetry to convey these themes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person climbing a mountain (the shape of the character 登 resembles a person ascending). The top of the mountain represents achievement, reminding you that 登 means 'to ascend.' The pronunciation 'dēng' sounds like 'dung,' which you can picture as a step up to reach the peak.

Meanings of 登

dēng(deng1)
1to scale (a height)
2to ascend
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 登

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1959Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 登

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AI Study Notes for 登

Quick Contrast

登 (dēng) vs 上 (shàng) — use 登 when specifically referring to ascending or climbing, while 上 is more general for going up or on.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person climbing a mountain (the shape of the character 登 resembles a person ascending). The top of the mountain represents achievement, reminding you that 登 means 'to ascend.' The pronunciation 'dēng' sounds like 'dung,' which you can picture as a step up to reach the peak.

Usage Notes

登 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to use it correctly with respect to the object being ascended. Common collocations include 登山 (dēng shān - to climb a mountain) and 登机 (dēng jī - to board a plane). Be cautious with the fourth tone (dēng) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

登 is not listed in HSK levels but relates closely to words like 爬 (pá - to climb) and 上 (shàng - to go up). Students should focus on using 登 in various contexts to expand their vocabulary regarding movement and ascent.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, climbing mountains has significant symbolism, often representing personal growth and overcoming obstacles. Mountains are revered in Chinese history, and 登 is frequently used in literature and poetry to convey these themes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 登 with similar verbs like 爬 (pá - to climb), which is more general. For example, saying '我想爬山' (Wǒ xiǎng pá shān) is correct, but if you specifically mean to scale a mountain, using 登 is more appropriate: '我想登山' (Wǒ xiǎng dēng shān).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 登

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Etymology of 登

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

Phonosemantic compound. 舛 represents the meaning and 豆 represents the sound. Depicts climbing up with two feet (舛).

Memory Hint

legs

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 登?

Decomposition of 登

IDS Structure⿱癶豆
Full Character
=
bo1
top
dou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 登?

Write 登

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

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Grammar Patterns of 登

登 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 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

Used to emphasize the action or the manner of an action.

他是昨天登山的。

Tā shì zuótiān dēngshān de.

He scaled the mountain yesterday.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

我____上了飞往北京的航班,开始了(我的)留学生活。

I boarded the flight to Beijing and began (my) study-abroad life.

Usage Notes for 登

Confusion with 登 and 登记Common Error

Learners often confuse '登' with '登记' (to register). '登' refers to ascending or scaling, while '登记' specifically means to register or record.

1

我想登山。

I want to scale a mountain.

2

我想登记我的名字。

I want to register my name.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我想____山。

I want to scale a mountain.

Example Sentences for 登 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
卡姆登市场是周末的最佳去处。

kǎ mǔ dēng shì cháng shì zhōu mò de zuì jiā qù chǔ。

Camden Market is the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday.
2
各家报纸都以整个头版醒目地刊登了这一报道。

gè jiā bào zhǐ dū yǐ zhěng gè tóu bǎn xǐng mù dì kān dēng le zhè yī bào dào。

The newspapers splashed the story all over their front pages.
3
他们拆掉户籍登记处后,那里留下了一片空地。

tā mén chāi diào hù jí dēng jì chǔ hòu, , nà lǐ liú xià le yī piàn kōng。

They'd pulled the registry office down which then left an open space.
4
一艘登陆艇的发动机还在运转。

yī sōu dēng lù tǐng de fā dòng jī huán zài yùn zhuǎn。

The engine of one landing craft was still running.
5
《卫报》的头版刊登了两国外交部长的一张合影。

《 《 wèi》 bào 》 de tóu bǎn kān dēng le liǎng guó wài jiāo bù cháng de yī zhāng。

The Guardian's front page carries a photograph of the two foreign ministers.
6
戈登先生突然闭口不言,他的朋友们知道有哪儿不对劲了。

gē dēng xiān shēng tū rán bì kǒu bù yán, , tā de péng yǒu mén zhī dào yǒu nǎ ér bù duì jìn。

Mr. Gordon stopped talking, and his friends knew something was up.
7
我会设法登门拜访,问他几个问题。

wǒ huì shè fǎ dēng mén bài fǎng, , wèn tā jī gè wèn。

I'll try to look him up, ask him a few questions.
8
你准备好登机了吗,戴利先生?

nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo dēng jī le ma, , dài lì xiān?

Are you ready to board, Mr. Daly?
9
有好多年,那对夫妻跌宕起伏的关系总是登上报纸头条。

yǒu hǎo duō nián, , nà duì fū qī diē dàng qǐ fú de guān xì zǒng shì dēng shàng bào zhǐ tóu。

For years, the couple's tempestuous relationship made the headlines.
10
今天报上登的那宗勒索案真可怕。

jīn tiān bào shàng dēng de nà zōng lè suǒ àn zhēn kě pà。

That was a terrible case of blackmail in the paper today.

Cultural Notes for 登

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, climbing mountains is not just a physical activity; it is often associated with spiritual ascension and enlightenment. Many famous mountains, such as Mount Tai, are considered sacred.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, climbing mountains has significant symbolism, often representing personal growth and overcoming obstacles. Mountains are revered in Chinese history, and 登 is frequently used in literature and poetry to convey these themes.

Word Family of 登

Compounds26
cheng2orange tree
deng4bench; stool
cheng2variant of 澄[chéng]
deng4to open (one's eyes) wide
deng1to step on
deng4lamp; a kind of cooking vessel
deng1for (a recipient of pity or sympathy); surname
deng1lamp, lantern, light
deng4mountain path
deng4stone steps on a cliff or hill
deng1bamboo or straw hat; street-vendor's umbrella
zheng4to prove, to verify; certificate, proof
Words Containing This Character20
登记dēngjìto register (one's name)登記
dēngto ascend
登陆dēnglùto land登陸
登场to go on stage登場
登录dēnglùto register登錄
刊登kāndēngto carry a story
登上to climb over
登机dēngjīto board a plane登機
登山dēngshānclimbing
攀登pāndēngto climb
登门to visit sb at home登門
摩登fashionable
李登辉Lee Teng-hui (1923-), Taiwanese politician, president of ROC 1988-2000李登輝
拉登(Osama) bin Laden (1957-2011), leader of Al Qaeda
登时immediately登時
登报to publish in the newspapers登報
登基to ascend the throne
捷足先登the quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
登载to record (bookkeeping entries)登載
登月to go (up) to the moon
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 橙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 登

登 has several meanings depending on the context. It can refer to climbing or ascending physical heights, publishing written works, or even entering data into a register. Understanding the context is key to grasping its full meaning.