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缸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
缸
gāng
earthen jug, crock, cistern
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Very Hard
缸
gāng
jar
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Very Hard
缸
gāng
vat
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Very Hard
缸
gāng
classifier for loads of laundry
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Very Hard
gāng(gang1)gang T1
1earthen jug, crock, cistern
2jar
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March 24, 2026
缸gāng(gang1)
The character 缸 (gāng) refers to a large container typically made from clay or ceramic, often used for holding liquids or other materials. It can denote an earthen jug, crock, or vat and is commonly used in contexts involving storage or transportation of substances. In addition, it serves as a classifier for loads of laundry, indicating its versatility in everyday life.
Strokes9Radical缶Frequency#13648DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese households, 缸 is often used for storing fermented foods, such as pickles or sauces, showcasing its importance in culinary practices. This reflects the significance of preservation techniques in Chinese cooking culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant clay jug (缸) standing tall in a laundry room, filled to the brim with clothes waiting to be washed. The sound of 'gāng' resembles the sound of water pouring from the jug, helping you remember its meaning. Picture the jug as a big 'g' shaped container, emphasizing its function as a holder.
Meanings of 缸
gāng(gang1)
1earthen jug, crock, cistern
2jar
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 缸
缸Simplified
9Strokes
缶Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
口Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 缸
Podcast: 缸
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AI Study Notes for 缸
Usage Notes
When using 缸, be aware that it is more common in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar containers, like 瓶 (píng), which specifically means 'bottle.' Remember that 缸 refers to larger, cylindrical containers, not smaller ones.
HSK Study Tips
Though 缸 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to household items and storage. Focus on the context of measurements and classifiers, as they are essential for understanding how to use this word effectively within sentences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 缸 with other words for containers, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '一瓶衣服' (yī píng yīfú) instead of '一缸衣服' is incorrect, as '瓶' implies a different type of container.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缸
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How Well Do You Know 缸?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 缸 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.
缸 = 缶 + 工. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 缸
IDS Structure⿰缶工
缸Full character
=
缶fou3
left
工gong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 缸?
How to say earthen jug, crock, cistern in Chinese
“earthen jug, crock, cistern” in Chinese is缸gāng
The character 缸 (gāng) refers to a large container typically made from clay or ceramic, often used for holding liquids or other materials. It can denote an earthen jug, crock, or vat and is commonly used in contexts involving storage or transportation of substances. In addition, it serves as a classifier for loads of laundry, indicating its versatility in everyday life.
When to use 缸
When using 缸, be aware that it is more common in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar containers, like 瓶 (píng), which specifically means 'bottle.' Remember that 缸 refers to larger, cylindrical containers, not smaller ones.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 缸 with other words for containers, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '一瓶衣服' (yī píng yīfú) instead of '一缸衣服' is incorrect, as '瓶' implies a different type of container.
Write 缸
缸
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Practice writing 缸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 缸
缸 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 4 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她用力把烟灰____从房间那头扔过来，差点砸到我的脑袋。
She hurled the ashtray across the room, narrowly missing my head.
Example Sentences for 缸 (10)
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1
她用力把烟灰缸从房间那头扔过来，差点砸到我的脑袋。
tā yòng lì bǎ yān huī gāng cóng fáng jiān nà tóu rēng guò lái， ， chà diǎn zá dào wǒ de nǎo。
She hurled the ashtray across the room, narrowly missing my head.
2
金鱼在小小的鱼缸里一圈圈地游来游去。
jīn yú zài xiǎo xiǎo de yú gāng lǐ yī quān quān dì yóu lái yóu qù。
The goldfish swam round and round in their tiny bowls.
3
这个“极可意”浴缸太小了，躺不下。
zhè gè“ “ jí kě” yì ” yù gāng tài， xiǎo le ，。
The jacuzzi was too small to stretch out in.
4
你忘了关浴缸的水龙头了 吗 ?
nǐ wàng le guān yù gāng de shuǐ lóng tóu le?
Have you left the bath running?
5
他完全清醒了，听见浴缸里的水在流。
tā wán quán qīng xǐng le， ， tīng jiàn yù gāng lǐ de shuǐ zài。
He came fully awake to hear the bath running.
6
他冲洗了浴缸，然后放满了一缸水。
tā chōng xǐ le yù gāng， ， rán hòu fàng mǎn le yī gāng。
He sluiced the bath and filled it.
7
我把烟灰缸倒空了。
wǒ bǎ yān huī gāng dǎo kōng le。
I emptied the ashtray.
8
他的办公室一片狼藉，文件成堆，烟灰满缸。
tā de bàn gōng shì yī piàn láng jiè， ， wén jiàn chéng， duī ， yān huī。
His office was a disaster area of papers and full ashtrays.
9
请把香烟灰弹在烟灰缸里.
qǐng bǎ xiāng yān huī dàn zài yān huī gāng lǐ.
Drop your cigarette ashes into the ashtray.
10
这个热水按摩浴缸, 陪我们度过天冷的春秋冬.
zhè gè rè shuǐ àn mó yù gāng, , péi wǒ mén dù guò tiān lěng de chūn qiū.
In the winter and spring , we used hot tub a lot.
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Word Family of 缸
Words containing this character11
浴缸bathtub
缸gāngjar
鱼缸fish tank魚缸
烟灰缸ashtray煙灰缸
气缸cylinder (engine)氣缸
水缸water jar
汽缸cylinder (of steam engine or internal combustion engine)
烟缸ashtray煙缸
茶缸mug
酒缸wine jar
顶缸to take the blame頂缸
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 缸
What does 浴缸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 缸
缸 refers to larger containers like jugs or vats, while 瓶 specifically means bottles, which are typically smaller.
No, 缸 is not suitable for buckets; it specifically implies larger, cylindrical containers.
You would use 缸 when referring to a quantity of laundry, such as '一缸衣服' (yī gāng yīfú) meaning 'a load of laundry'.
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