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闳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
闳hóngbarrier, gate; vast, wide; to expandg, 7 strokes, radical 门
闳hóngsurname Hongunknown, 7 strokes, radical 门
hóng(Hong2) T2
  1. 1barrier, gate; vast, wide; to expand
Also a Chinese surname, Hong — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

闳(閎)hóng(Hong2)

The character 闳 (hóng) refers to a barrier or gate, suggesting a sense of enclosure or entry. It can also imply vastness or expansiveness, particularly when describing spaces or concepts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, often appearing in more formal or literary contexts.

Strokes7Radical门
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese architecture, gates were significant, symbolizing not just physical entry points but also transitions between different realms of life. The concept of vastness is often tied to ideals of prosperity and opportunity in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand gate (闳) that opens to a vast (宽) landscape, symbolizing the vastness of opportunities beyond. The character combines the radical for 'gate' (门) with a component that evokes a sense of breadth, helping you remember both its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 闳

hóng(Hong2)
1barrier, gate; vast, wide; to expand
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 闳

闳Simplified
閎Traditional
7Strokes
门Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 闳

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Podcast: 闳

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AI Study Notes for 闳

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 闳 with similar characters that also involve gates, such as 门 (mén), which means 'door.' It is more commonly encountered in formal writing or literature, so be mindful of the context in which you use it. Ensure correct pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 闳 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to gates and expansiveness. Focus on recognizing it in literature and understanding its relation to similar terms. Building vocabulary around gates and barriers will enhance your comprehension of texts that use this character.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 闳 with the more common 门 (mén) and use it incorrectly in casual conversation. For example, saying '我在闳前等' (Wǒ zài hóng qián děng) instead of '我在门前等' (Wǒ zài mén qián děng), which means 'I am waiting in front of the door.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 闳

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Etymology of 闳

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

gate

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 闳

  1. 1The meaning half门 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half厷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygate
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 闳? 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 闳?

Decomposition of 闳

IDS Structure⿵门厷
闳Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
厷gong1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 闳?

How to say barrier, gate; vast, wide; to expand in Chinese

“barrier, gate; vast, wide; to expand” in Chinese is闳hóng

The character 闳 (hóng) refers to a barrier or gate, suggesting a sense of enclosure or entry. It can also imply vastness or expansiveness, particularly when describing spaces or concepts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, often appearing in more formal or literary contexts.

When to use 闳

Learners often confuse 闳 with similar characters that also involve gates, such as 门 (mén), which means 'door.' It is more commonly encountered in formal writing or literature, so be mindful of the context in which you use it. Ensure correct pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 闳 with the more common 门 (mén) and use it incorrectly in casual conversation. For example, saying '我在闳前等' (Wǒ zài hóng qián děng) instead of '我在门前等' (Wǒ zài mén qián děng), which means 'I am waiting in front of the door.'

Write 闳

闳

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

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Word Family of 闳

Words Containing This Character1
闳hóngbig閎
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 闳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 闳

It is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it refers to a gate or barrier and also conveys a sense of vastness.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 闳?

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.