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眶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眶kuàngeye socketng, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #36489, Very Hard
眶kuàngeye socket; the corner of the eyeng, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #36489, Very Hard
kuàng(kuang4)kuang T4
  1. 1eye socket
  2. 2eye socket; the corner of the eye
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March 24, 2026

眶kuàng(kuang4)

The character 眶 (kuàng) refers primarily to the eye socket, which is the bony cavity in the skull that houses the eyeball. It can also denote the corner of the eye, an important area in both anatomical and cosmetic contexts. This term is commonly used in medical discussions or descriptions related to eye health and anatomy.

Strokes11Radical目Frequency#36489DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the eyes are often considered a reflection of internal health. The term 眶 can be associated with practices that emphasize the importance of eye health and its link to overall well-being, highlighting the cultural significance of vision.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 眶 as a pair of eyes peering out from a 'house' (the radical '目' for eye, resembling an eye). Picture someone looking in surprise, their eyes wide open in their sockets, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'kuàng' as they are shocked and their eyes pop out!

Meanings of 眶

kuàng(kuang4)
1eye socket
2eye socket; the corner of the eye
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 眶

眶Simplified
11Strokes
目Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#36489Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眶

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Podcast: 眶

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AI Study Notes for 眶

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 眶 with similar characters like 眼 (yǎn, eye) or 眉 (méi, eyebrow). This term is more technical and formal, typically used in medical contexts rather than daily conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 眶 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with basic vocabulary related to anatomy found in HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on recognizing it in medical contexts and understanding how it relates to other body parts, enhancing their vocabulary in health-related discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 眶 by using it interchangeably with 眼 (yǎn). For example, saying '我有一个眶痛' instead of '我有一个眼痛' (I have an eye pain) is incorrect. Remember that 眶 specifically refers to the eye socket.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眶

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Etymology of 眶

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

eye

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

Origin

眶 = 目 + 匡. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 眶

IDS Structure⿰目匡
眶Full Character
=
目mu4
left
匡Kuang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 眶?

How to say eye socket in Chinese

“eye socket” in Chinese is眶kuàng

The character 眶 (kuàng) refers primarily to the eye socket, which is the bony cavity in the skull that houses the eyeball. It can also denote the corner of the eye, an important area in both anatomical and cosmetic contexts. This term is commonly used in medical discussions or descriptions related to eye health and anatomy.

When to use 眶

Learners often confuse 眶 with similar characters like 眼 (yǎn, eye) or 眉 (méi, eyebrow). This term is more technical and formal, typically used in medical contexts rather than daily conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 眶 by using it interchangeably with 眼 (yǎn). For example, saying '我有一个眶痛' instead of '我有一个眼痛' (I have an eye pain) is incorrect. Remember that 眶 specifically refers to the eye socket.

Write 眶

眶

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

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Grammar Patterns of 眶

眶 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我眼泪盈____,抬不起头来.

I couldn't look up. My eyes were getting wet.

Example Sentences for 眶 (1)

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1
我眼泪盈眶,抬不起头来.

wǒ yǎn lèi yíng kuàng, , tái bù qǐ tóu.

I couldn't look up. My eyes were getting wet.

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Word Family of 眶

Words Containing This Character3
眼眶eye socket
热泪盈眶rèlèiyíngkuàngextremely moved熱淚盈眶
眶kuàngeye socket
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 眶

What does 眼眶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眶

It is pronounced as 'kuàng', with a falling tone.

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