Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
膏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
膏gāoointmentn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāopasten, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāoto moistenn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāoto greasen, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāoto apply (cream, ointment)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāoto dip a brush in inkn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gāogrease, fat; ointment, pasten, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàoointmentn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàopasten, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàoto moistenn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàoto greasen, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàoto apply (cream, ointment)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàoto dip a brush in inkn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏gàogrease, fat; ointment, pasten, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
gāo(gao1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1ointment
  2. 2paste
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

膏gāo(gao1)

膏 (gāo) refers to a thick, often greasy substance such as ointment or paste. It is commonly used in contexts related to skincare, medicinal applications, or cooking, indicating a consistency that is moist and somewhat viscous. This character conveys the notion of applying something that has a lubricating or healing quality.

Strokes14Radical⺼Frequency#9835DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, 膏 is often used to describe medicinal pastes that are applied to the skin for healing. These ointments are a part of holistic approaches to health and emphasize the importance of natural remedies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef named Gao who makes a special ointment from a fat pig. The character 膏 looks like a thick layer of cream spread on a surface. Remember 'Gao' to remind you of the greasy, thick paste that you would apply to heal a wound or enhance a dish.

Meanings of 膏

gāo(gao1)
primary
1ointment
2paste
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 膏

膏Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9835Frequency Rank
帖Measure Word

Podcast: 膏

JasonAmy

Podcast: 膏

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 膏

Quick Contrast

膏 (gāo) vs 霜 (shuāng) — use 膏 for thick, greasy substances like ointments, while 霜 refers to creams or frost that are lighter in texture.

Usage Notes

膏 is often used in formal contexts, especially in medical or culinary discussions. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, like 高 (gāo), which means 'tall' or 'high'. Common collocations include 膏药 (gāoyào - medicated plaster) and 涂膏 (tú gāo - to apply ointment).

HSK Study Tips

膏 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary list, but it can be related to HSK 4 words concerning health and food. Students should focus on the different contexts where 膏 is used, particularly in health-related conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 膏 with the word 糕 (gāo), which means 'cake.' For example, saying '我想吃膏' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) instead of '我想吃糕' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) would change the meaning from wanting to eat a cake to wanting to eat an ointment, which is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 膏

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 膏 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 膏

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 高 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

flesh

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 膏

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 高 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half高 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 膏? 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 膏?

Decomposition of 膏

IDS Structure⿱高⺼
膏Full Character
=
高Gao1
top
⺼rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 膏?

How to say ointment in Chinese

“ointment” in Chinese is膏gāo

膏 (gāo) refers to a thick, often greasy substance such as ointment or paste. It is commonly used in contexts related to skincare, medicinal applications, or cooking, indicating a consistency that is moist and somewhat viscous. This character conveys the notion of applying something that has a lubricating or healing quality.

When to use 膏

膏 is often used in formal contexts, especially in medical or culinary discussions. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, like 高 (gāo), which means 'tall' or 'high'. Common collocations include 膏药 (gāoyào - medicated plaster) and 涂膏 (tú gāo - to apply ointment).

膏 or something close to it

膏 (gāo) vs 霜 (shuāng) — use 膏 for thick, greasy substances like ointments, while 霜 refers to creams or frost that are lighter in texture.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 膏 with the word 糕 (gāo), which means 'cake.' For example, saying '我想吃膏' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) instead of '我想吃糕' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) would change the meaning from wanting to eat a cake to wanting to eat an ointment, which is incorrect.

Write 膏

膏

Practice writing 膏 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 膏

膏 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 7 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 4

Complete the Sentence

你不一定非要让唇____的颜色同礼服完全搭配。

You don't have to match your lipstick exactly to your outfit.

Common Confusions with 膏

膏vs高
gāo

Same pronunciation but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "ointment"?

or

Example Sentences for 膏 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你不一定非要让唇膏的颜色同礼服完全搭配。

nǐ bù yī dìng fēi yào ràng chún gāo de yán sè tóng lǐ fú wán quán dā pèi。

You don't have to match your lipstick exactly to your outfit.
2
子弹砰地射进了天花板，掉落的石膏碎片落了他们一身。

zǐ dàn pēng dì shè jìn le tiān huā bǎn， ， diào luò de shí gāo suì piàn luò le tā mén yī。

The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster.
3
海伦选择的唇膏很适合她的肤色。

hǎi lún xuǎn zé de chún gāo hěn shì hé tā de fū sè。

Helen's choice of lipstick was a good match for her skin-tone.
4
用唇线笔勾出双唇的轮廓，然后涂上唇膏。

yòng chún xiàn bǐ gōu chū shuāng chún de lún kuò， ， rán hòu tú shàng chún。

With a lip pencil, outline lips and fill them in.
5
我们在他的膝盖上涂了些药膏并打上了绷带。

wǒ mén zài tā de xī gài shàng tú le xiē yào gāo bìng dǎ shàng le bēng dài。

We put some ointment and a bandage on his knee.
6
本公司配制药膏.

běn gōng sī pèi zhì yào gāo.

The firm has been dispensing ointments.
7
天花板很高，上面装饰着石膏水果和花朵。

tiān huā bǎn hěn gāo， ， shàng miàn zhuāng shì zháo shí gāo shuǐ guǒ hé huā。

It had a high ceiling, ornamented with plaster fruits and flowers.
8
你闻见了 吗 ?整个屋子都是刮胡子膏的味儿.

nǐ wén jiàn le? ma ? zhěng gè wū zǐ dū shì guā hú zǐ gāo de.

You notice? The whole house smells of shaving lotion.
9
敷用这药膏后,你的脚会感到舒服些.

fū yòng zhè yào gāo hòu, , nǐ de jiǎo huì gǎn dào shū fú.

Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.
10
这种新护肤香膏受到了 中年 妇女的欢迎.

zhè zhǒng xīn hù fū xiāng gāo shòu dào le zhōng nián fù nǚ de.

The new skin balm was welcome by middle - aged women.

Word Family of 膏

Words Containing This Character20
膏gāopaste
牙膏yágāotoothpaste
唇膏lip balm
石膏plaster
药膏ointment藥膏
软膏ointment軟膏
病入膏肓the situation is hopeless
膏药herbal plaster applied to a wound膏藥
油膏balm
雪花膏vanishing cream
挤牙膏lit. to squeeze out toothpaste擠牙膏
橡皮膏sticking plaster
民脂民膏the people's blood, sweat and tears
生石膏plaster
狗皮膏药quack medicine狗皮膏藥
脂膏fat
硬石膏anhydrite CaSO4
膏血lit. fat and blood
熟石膏plaster of Paris
煅石膏plaster of Paris
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 膏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 膏

Yes, 膏 is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to refer to various ointments or pastes that have therapeutic properties. These are typically applied to the skin for healing purposes and may contain herbal ingredients.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 膏?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.