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登 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
登
dēng
to scale (a height)
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to ascend
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to mount
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to publish or record
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to enter (e.g. in a register)
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to press down with the foot
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to step or tread on
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to put on (shoes or trousers) (dialect)
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to be gathered and taken to the threshing ground (old)
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
登
dēng
to rise, to mount, to board, to climb
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 癶, rank #1959, Hard
dēng(deng1)deng T1
1to scale (a height)
2to ascend
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March 24, 2026
登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.
Strokes12Radical癶Frequency#1959DifficultyHard
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
By ear
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About 登
登Simplified
12Strokes
癶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1959Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 登
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.
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.
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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登 = 癶 + 豆. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 登
IDS Structure⿱癶豆
登Full character
=
癶bo1
top
豆dou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 登?
How to say to scale (a height) in Chinese
“to scale (a height)” in Chinese is登dēng
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.
When to use 登
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.
登 or something close to it
登 (dēng) vs 上 (shàng) — use 登 when specifically referring to ascending or climbing, while 上 is more general for going up or on.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 登
登
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Practice writing 登 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.
To celebrate his birthday, he decided to scale to the top of the tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
13
探险队成功登上了珠穆朗玛峰的峰顶。
Tànxiǎn duì chénggōng dēng shàngle Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng de fēngdǐng.
The expedition team successfully scaled the summit of Mount Everest.
14
他们花了六个小时登上了那座险峻的山峰。
Tāmen huāle liù gè xiǎoshí dēng shàngle nà zuò xiǎnjùn de shānfēng.
They spent six hours scaling that treacherous peak.
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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.
Word Family of 登
Compounds26
橙chéngorange tree
凳dèngbench; stool
澄chéngvariant of 澄[chéng]
瞪dèngto open (one's eyes) wide
蹬dēngto step on
镫dènglamp; a kind of cooking vessel
噔dēngfor (a recipient of pity or sympathy); surname
燈dēnglamp, lantern, light
嶝dèngmountain path
磴dèngstone steps on a cliff or hill
簦dēngbamboo or straw hat; street-vendor's umbrella
僜chēng
墱dèng
嬁dēng
憕chéng
撜zhěng
璒dēng
竳dēng
膯tēng
艠dēng
證zhèngto prove, to verify; certificate, proof
邆téng
鐙dèng
隥dèng
霯tèng
鼟tēng
Words containing this character20
登记dēngjìto register (one's name)登記
登dēngto ascend
登陆dēnglùto land登陸
登场dēngchǎngto go on stage登場
登录dēnglùto register登錄
刊登kāndēngto carry a story
登上dēngshàngto climb over
登机dēngjīto board a plane登機
登山dēngshānclimbing
攀登pāndēngto climb
登门dēngménto visit sb at home登門
摩登módēngfashionable
李登辉lǐdēnghuīLee Teng-hui (1923-), Taiwanese politician, president of ROC 1988-2000李登輝
拉登lādēng(Osama) bin Laden (1957-2011), leader of Al Qaeda
登时dēngshíimmediately登時
登报dēngbàoto publish in the newspapers登報
登基dēngjīto ascend the throne
捷足先登jiézúxiāndēngthe quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
登载dēngzǎito record (bookkeeping entries)登載
登月dēngyuèto go (up) to the moon
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 登
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.
Yes, 登 is used in various phrases such as '登高' (dēng gāo), which means to climb high or ascend. Another example is '登场' (dēng chǎng), meaning to make an appearance, often used in performances or shows.
登 (dēng) means to scale or ascend, often referring to climbing heights or mounting something. It can also mean to publish or record, such as entering information in a register. Additionally, it can imply pressing down with the foot in certain contexts.
To use 登 in a sentence, you might say '我想登上那个山顶' (Wǒ xiǎng dēng shàng nàgè shāndǐng), which means 'I want to climb to that mountain top.' You can also use it in the context of publishing, like '这本书已经登出' (Zhè běn shū yǐjīng dēng chū), meaning 'This book has been published.'
You can say '我想登山' (Wǒ xiǎng dēng shān) which means 'I want to climb a mountain.'
No, it can also refer to entering or recording, like '登记' (dēng jì - to register).
You should pronounce it with the first tone (dēng).
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