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陉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陉xíngdefile, gorge, mountain passg, 7 strokes, radical 阝
陉xíngborder the stoveunknown, 7 strokes, radical 阝
陉xíngpassunknown, 7 strokes, radical 阝
xíng(xing2) T2
  1. 1defile, gorge, mountain pass
  2. 2border the stove
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

陉(陘)xíng(xing2)

The character 陉 (xíng) primarily refers to a defile, gorge, or mountain pass, which is a narrow passage through mountainous terrain. It is used in geographical contexts and can also imply a boundary or border area, particularly related to natural formations. In some contexts, it can relate to a 'pass' in a more abstract sense, such as a transition point.

Strokes7Radical阝
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountain passes (such as those referred to by 陉) are often significant in historical narratives, representing both physical barriers and metaphorical challenges in the journey of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a steep mountain pass (陉) where one must 'sing' (sounds like 'xíng') to get the attention of a traveler lost in the gorge. The character's structure resembles a mountain (the top part) and a path (the bottom part), reminding you of a passage through the mountains.

Meanings of 陉

xíng(xing2)
1defile, gorge, mountain pass
2border the stove
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 陉

陉Simplified
陘Traditional
7Strokes
阝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 陉

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Podcast: 陉

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AI Study Notes for 陉

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or literary. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely, leading to confusion. It often appears in phrases related to geography or historical texts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 陉 is not an HSK level character, it connects to other geographical terms found in beginner levels. Focus on understanding its use in context and how it might appear in literature or geography-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 陉 with similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 陉 to describe something flat or plain is incorrect; it specifically refers to mountainous areas or gorges.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陉

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Etymology of 陉

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

hill

Semantic (meaning)阝
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 陉

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The giveawayhill
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 陉? 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 陉?

Decomposition of 陉

IDS Structure⿰阝？
陉Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 陉?

How to say defile, gorge, mountain pass in Chinese

“defile, gorge, mountain pass” in Chinese is陉xíng

The character 陉 (xíng) primarily refers to a defile, gorge, or mountain pass, which is a narrow passage through mountainous terrain. It is used in geographical contexts and can also imply a boundary or border area, particularly related to natural formations. In some contexts, it can relate to a 'pass' in a more abstract sense, such as a transition point.

When to use 陉

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or literary. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely, leading to confusion. It often appears in phrases related to geography or historical texts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 陉 with similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 陉 to describe something flat or plain is incorrect; it specifically refers to mountainous areas or gorges.

Write 陉

陉

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 陉

Words Containing This Character5
井陉Jingxing county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei井陘
井陉县Jingxing county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei井陘縣
陉xíngdefile陘
井陉矿区Jingxingkuang District of Shijiazhuang City 石家莊市|石家庄市[Shí​jiā​zhuāng​Shì], Hebei井陘礦區
井陉矿Jingxingkuang District of Shijiazhuang City 石家莊市|石家庄市[Shí​jiā​zhuāng​Shì], Hebei井陘礦
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 井陉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陉

陉 is typically used in geographical contexts, such as describing landscapes or in literary texts discussing historical routes.

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