Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
衕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
tóngsame, similar; together with, alikezg, 12 strokes, radical 行, Very Hard
tóng(tong2) T2
  1. 1same, similar; together with, alike
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
tóng(tong2)

The character 衕 (tóng) conveys the idea of similarity or togetherness. It is often used in contexts where things are alike or when referring to collective actions or states. This character can be used both in formal and informal settings when discussing concepts of sameness.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of similarity is often celebrated in familial and communal ties, reflecting the importance of unity and togetherness in societal values. 衕 can be seen as a representation of this cultural emphasis on collective identity.

Memory Tip

Imagine two identical twins (both represented by the character 衕) standing side by side. The radical 衤 symbolizes clothing, hinting at how they might wear the same outfit, emphasizing their similarity. Remember 'tóng' sounds like 'tongue,' which is used to taste similar flavors together.

Meanings of 衕

tóng(tong2)
1same, similar; together with, alike
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 衕

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 衕

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 衕

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine two identical twins (both represented by the character 衕) standing side by side. The radical 衤 symbolizes clothing, hinting at how they might wear the same outfit, emphasizing their similarity. Remember 'tóng' sounds like 'tongue,' which is used to taste similar flavors together.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 衕 (tóng) with similar characters like 同 (tóng), which also means 'same' but has a broader usage. This character is more specific to contexts of similarity in appearance or characteristics. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 衕 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to similar characters like 同 (tóng) and 相 (xiāng), which are important for beginners. Focus on differentiating these characters in meaning and usage to enhance comprehension.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of similarity is often celebrated in familial and communal ties, reflecting the importance of unity and togetherness in societal values. 衕 can be seen as a representation of this cultural emphasis on collective identity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 衕 with 同 when trying to express similarity. For example, using 同 when describing two similar objects instead of 衕 can lead to subtle misinterpretations. Correct usage: 衕的颜色相似 (The colors are similar).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 衕

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 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 衕

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a bucket or tube, now written as 筒. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value.

Memory Hint

To walk 行 with 同 someone; 同 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 衕?

Decomposition of 衕

IDS Structure⿻行同
Full Character
=
hang2
outer
tong2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 衕?

Write 衕

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 衕

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of similarity is often celebrated in familial and communal ties, reflecting the importance of unity and togetherness in societal values. 衕 can be seen as a representation of this cultural emphasis on collective identity.

Word Family of 衕

Words Containing This Character20
同时tóngshíat the same time同時
tónglike
不同bùtóngdifferent
同意tóngyìto agree
同样tóngyàngsame同樣
同志tóngzhìcomrade
共同gòngtóngcommon
同性恋homosexuality同性戀
合同hétóng(business) contract
同学tóngxuéclassmate同學
相同xiāngtóngsame
同事tóngshìcolleague
同一tóngyīidentical
同情tóngqíngsympathy
如同rútónglike
同期tóngqīconcurrent
与此同时yǔcǐtóngshíat the same time與此同時
与众不同yǔzhòngbùtóngto stand out from the masses (idiom)與眾不同
同伴tóngbàncompanion
赞同zàntóngto approve of讚同
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 同时 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 衕

While both characters mean 'same,' 衕 is more focused on physical or characteristic similarity, whereas 同 can be used more broadly for sameness in various contexts.