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罔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
罔wǎngnone; to deceive; to slanderg, 8 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #35443, Very Hard
罔wǎngthere is noneunknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #35443, Very Hard
罔wǎngold variant of 罔[wang3]g, 8 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #35443, Very Hard
罔wǎngold variant of 網|网[wang3]unknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #35443, Very Hard
wǎng(wang3) T3
  1. 1none; to deceive; to slander
  2. 2there is none
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

罔(㒺)wǎng(wang3)

The character 罔 (wǎng) primarily means to deceive or to slander. It is an old variant of the character 网 (wǎng), which means 'net,' but in its current usage, it conveys the idea of trickery or misrepresentation, often in contexts involving dishonesty or falsehood.

Strokes8Radical⺳Frequency#35443DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of deception is significant in Chinese literature and philosophy, often associated with moral lessons about trust and betrayal. Characters like 罔 serve as reminders of the importance of integrity in relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a web (网) that entangles and deceives its prey. The character 罔 looks like a net with a deceptive twist, symbolizing how someone can be caught in lies or slander. Remember, 'wǎng' sounds like 'wong,' a playful twist to help you recall that it relates to wrongdoings.

Meanings of 罔

wǎng(wang3)
1none; to deceive; to slander
2there is none
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 罔

罔Simplified
㒺Traditional
8Strokes
⺳Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 罔

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Podcast: 罔

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AI Study Notes for 罔

Usage Notes

Be cautious as 罔 is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, making it more suitable for literary or historical contexts. It can be confused with 网, which has a positive connotation of connectivity. Always consider the context to avoid misinterpretation.

HSK Study Tips

Since 罔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on its relationship to more common characters like 网 (wǎng) and 亡 (wáng). Understanding how 罔 fits into the broader spectrum of characters related to deception can enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 罔 with 网, thinking they have similar meanings in all contexts. For instance, saying '我在罔里' (wǒ zài wǎng lǐ - 'I am in the deceit') is incorrect; instead, use '我在网里' (wǒ zài wǎng lǐ - 'I am in the net').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 罔

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Etymology of 罔

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

Phonosemantic compound. 网 represents the meaning and 亡 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

net

Semantic (meaning)⺳
+
Phonetic (sound)亡
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 罔

Phonosemantic compound. 网 represents the meaning and 亡 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half⺳ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half亡 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaynet
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 罔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 罔?

Decomposition of 罔

IDS Structure⿵⺳⿱一亡
罔Full Character
=
⺳—
enclosing
一yi1
top
亡wang2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 罔?

How to say none; to deceive; to slander in Chinese

“none; to deceive; to slander” in Chinese is罔wǎng

The character 罔 (wǎng) primarily means to deceive or to slander. It is an old variant of the character 网 (wǎng), which means 'net,' but in its current usage, it conveys the idea of trickery or misrepresentation, often in contexts involving dishonesty or falsehood.

When to use 罔

Be cautious as 罔 is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, making it more suitable for literary or historical contexts. It can be confused with 网, which has a positive connotation of connectivity. Always consider the context to avoid misinterpretation.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 罔 with 网, thinking they have similar meanings in all contexts. For instance, saying '我在罔里' (wǒ zài wǎng lǐ - 'I am in the deceit') is incorrect; instead, use '我在网里' (wǒ zài wǎng lǐ - 'I am in the net').

Write 罔

罔

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 罔

罔 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

“____两”一词历来向有“无据依”、“景外微阴”及“精怪”三义.

Traditionally, the word wangliang has three different meanings penumbra and elf.

Example Sentences for 罔 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“罔两”一词历来向有“无据依”、“景外微阴”及“精怪”三义.

“ “ wǎng” liǎng ” yī cí lì lái“ xiàng yǒu “”、“ wú jù yī ”、“” jǐng“ wài wēi” yīn ”.

Traditionally, the word wangliang has three different meanings penumbra and elf.

Word Family of 罔

Words Containing This Character3
置若罔闻to turn a deaf ear to (idiom); to pretend not to hear置若罔聞
罔wǎngto deceive
欺君罔上to dupe one's sovereign
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 置若罔闻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 罔

In modern usage, 罔 mainly refers to deception or slander, although it is quite rare.

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