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薑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
薑jiānggingerzg, 17 strokes, radical 艹
jiāng(jiang1)jiang T1
  1. 1ginger
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March 24, 2026

薑jiāng(jiang1)

薑 (jiāng) refers to ginger, a widely used spice and medicinal herb in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine. It is commonly used to add flavor to dishes, as well as for its health benefits, such as aiding digestion and reducing nausea.

Strokes17Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, ginger is not only a culinary ingredient but also a symbol of health and vitality, often used in traditional remedies, especially during cold seasons to ward off illness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant, smiling 'ginger' root wearing a crown, proudly standing in a kitchen full of delicious dishes. The character 薑 has the radical '艹' (cǎo) which means 'grass' or 'herb,' hinting at its plant nature, while the phonetic part '姜' (jiāng) sounds like 'jang' which can remind you of the zingy taste of ginger.

Meanings of 薑

jiāng(jiang1)
1ginger
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 薑

薑Simplified
17Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薑

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Podcast: 薑

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AI Study Notes for 薑

Usage Notes

薑 is typically used in cooking and health contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar spices, like garlic (蒜, suàn). Keep in mind that 薑 is more informal, primarily used in everyday conversation and cooking.

HSK Study Tips

Although 薑 is not specifically included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is an essential word for learners interested in food and cooking. Students should focus on its usage in recipes and health-related discussions to enhance their vocabulary in practical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 薑 with other spices due to similar appearance or pronunciation. For example, confusing 薑 (jiāng) with 蒜 (suàn) for garlic. It’s crucial to remember that 薑 specifically refers to ginger.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薑

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Etymology of 薑

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

herb

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

Origin

薑 = 艹 + 畺. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 薑

IDS Structure⿱艹畺
薑Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
畺jiang1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 薑?

How to say ginger in Chinese

“ginger” in Chinese is薑jiāng

薑 (jiāng) refers to ginger, a widely used spice and medicinal herb in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine. It is commonly used to add flavor to dishes, as well as for its health benefits, such as aiding digestion and reducing nausea.

When to use 薑

薑 is typically used in cooking and health contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar spices, like garlic (蒜, suàn). Keep in mind that 薑 is more informal, primarily used in everyday conversation and cooking.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 薑 with other spices due to similar appearance or pronunciation. For example, confusing 薑 (jiāng) with 蒜 (suàn) for garlic. It’s crucial to remember that 薑 specifically refers to ginger.

Write 薑

薑

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

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Word Family of 薑

Words Containing This Character8
姜jiāngginger
生姜fresh ginger生薑
姜文Jiang Wen (1963-), sixth generation Chinese movie director
姜黄turmeric薑黃
姜子牙Jiang Ziya (c. 1100 BC, dates of birth and death unknown), partly mythical sage advisor to King Wen of Zhou 周文王[Zhōu​Wén​wáng] and purported author of “Six Secret Strategic Teachings” 六韜|六韬[Liù​tāo], one of the Seven Military Classics of ancient China 武經七
孟姜女heroine of Qin dynasty 秦朝 folk tale, who searched for her husband, and whose tears broke down a stretch of the Great Wall to reveal his body
黄姜turmeric黃薑
姜太公see Jiang Ziya 姜子牙[Jiāng​Zǐ​yá]
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 薑

What does 姜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薑

薑 is often minced, sliced, or grated and added to stir-fries, soups, and marinades for flavor.

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