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芎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
芎xiōngSzechuan lovage rhizomex, 6 strokes, radical 艹
芎qiōngSzechuan lovage rhizomex, 6 strokes, radical 艹
qiōng(qiong1)qiong
primary
T1
  1. 1Szechuan lovage rhizome
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March 24, 2026

芎qiōng(qiong1)

The character 芎 (qiōng) refers to the Szechuan lovage rhizome, which is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used for its properties in promoting blood circulation and treating headaches. It is commonly found in herbal medicine and is an important ingredient in various Chinese dishes, particularly in Sichuan cuisine.

Strokes6Radical艹
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, herbal medicine plays a significant role, and 芎 is often used in traditional remedies to treat ailments, reflecting the holistic approach to health in Chinese medicine.

Memory tip

Imagine a long, winding root (rhizome) that looks like a small river in the mountains of Sichuan. The character 芎 has the radical for 'plant' (艹) on top, suggesting its botanical nature, and the bottom part (兄) sounds like 'qiōng,' which can remind you of a brotherly bond with nature.

Meanings of 芎

qiōng(qiong1)
primary
1Szechuan lovage rhizome
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 芎

芎Simplified
6Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 芎

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Podcast: 芎

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AI study notes for 芎

Usage Notes

In herbal contexts, 芎 is typically paired with other medicinal herbs. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tones can lead to misunderstandings; ensure you use the first tone correctly. This word is mostly used in formal settings, such as medicinal texts or discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Though 芎 is not on the HSK list, it connects with HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to health and food. Students should focus on recognizing its role in herbal medicine and its pronunciation to distinguish it from similar-sounding words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 芎 with similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and tone. For example, mixing it up with 兄 (xiōng), which means 'brother,' can lead to incorrect usage in context. Always remember that 芎 is about plants and medicine, not familial relationships.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芎

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Etymology of 芎

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

herb

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

Origin

芎 = 艹 + 弓. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 芎

IDS Structure⿱艹弓
芎Full character
=
艹cao3
top
弓Gong1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 芎?

How to say Szechuan lovage rhizome in Chinese

“Szechuan lovage rhizome” in Chinese is芎xiōng

The character 芎 (qiōng) refers to the Szechuan lovage rhizome, which is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used for its properties in promoting blood circulation and treating headaches. It is commonly found in herbal medicine and is an important ingredient in various Chinese dishes, particularly in Sichuan cuisine.

When to use 芎

In herbal contexts, 芎 is typically paired with other medicinal herbs. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tones can lead to misunderstandings; ensure you use the first tone correctly. This word is mostly used in formal settings, such as medicinal texts or discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 芎 with similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and tone. For example, mixing it up with 兄 (xiōng), which means 'brother,' can lead to incorrect usage in context. Always remember that 芎 is about plants and medicine, not familial relationships.

Write 芎

芎

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

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Word Family of 芎

Words containing this character2
川芎chuanxiong rhizome
芎qiōngchuanxiong rhizome
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 芎

What does 川芎 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 芎

芎 is valued for its ability to improve blood circulation and alleviate headaches, making it an important herb in many traditional remedies.

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