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降 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
降jiàngto dropHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto surrenderHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto fallHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto capitulateHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto come downHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto subdueHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto descendHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto tameHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降jiàngto descend, to fall; to drop, to lowerHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto dropHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto surrenderHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto fallHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto capitulateHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto come downHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto subdueHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto descendHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto tameHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
降xiángto descend, to fall; to drop, to lowerHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3853, Medium
jiàng(jiang4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1to drop
  2. 2to surrender
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

降jiàng(jiang4)

The character 降 (jiàng) primarily means 'to descend' or 'to fall.' It can also imply 'to surrender' or 'to capitulate' in a context of yielding to authority or a situation. This character is often used in both literal contexts, like describing something dropping, and metaphorical contexts, such as someone yielding in a conflict.

Strokes8Radical阝Frequency#3853DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of surrender (降) can be seen in historical contexts, such as during military conflicts where surrender was a significant event. It reflects the values of humility and the importance of strategic retreat in Chinese philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant mountain (山) that represents high places. When you '降' from the mountain, you are coming down (降) to a lower level. The character has a top component that resembles an umbrella, which can shield you as you descend, reminding you of the falling action.

Meanings of 降

jiàng(jiang4)
primary
1to drop
2to surrender
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 降

降Simplified
8Strokes
阝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3853Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 降

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Podcast: 降

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AI Study Notes for 降

Quick Contrast

降 (jiàng) vs 跌 (diē) — use 降 for controlled descent or yielding, while 跌 emphasizes an uncontrolled fall.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 降 (jiàng) with 上 (shàng), which means 'to ascend.' This character is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but in formal writings, ensure that 'surrender' is clearly indicated to avoid miscommunication. Common collocations include 降落 (to fall down) and 降服 (to surrender).

HSK Study Tips

Although 降 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects to themes in HSK 3 and 4, where students learn about verbs indicating movement and change. Students should practice its various meanings and contexts to grasp its full range of uses.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 降 (jiàng) with 降临 (jiànglín), which means 'to arrive or come down,' leading to incorrect usage in contexts about surrender. Remember that 降 primarily focuses on the action of descending or yielding.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 降

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Etymology of 降

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

Depicts two feet (止) descending down a hill (阝).

Memory Hint

hill

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 降

Depicts two feet (止) descending down a hill (阝).

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half夅 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhill
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 降? 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 降?

Decomposition of 降

IDS Structure⿰阝夅
降Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
夅jiang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 降?

How to say to drop in Chinese

“to drop” in Chinese is降jiàng

The character 降 (jiàng) primarily means 'to descend' or 'to fall.' It can also imply 'to surrender' or 'to capitulate' in a context of yielding to authority or a situation. This character is often used in both literal contexts, like describing something dropping, and metaphorical contexts, such as someone yielding in a conflict.

When to use 降

Be cautious not to confuse 降 (jiàng) with 上 (shàng), which means 'to ascend.' This character is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but in formal writings, ensure that 'surrender' is clearly indicated to avoid miscommunication. Common collocations include 降落 (to fall down) and 降服 (to surrender).

降 or something close to it

降 (jiàng) vs 跌 (diē) — use 降 for controlled descent or yielding, while 跌 emphasizes an uncontrolled fall.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 降 (jiàng) with 降临 (jiànglín), which means 'to arrive or come down,' leading to incorrect usage in contexts about surrender. Remember that 降 primarily focuses on the action of descending or yielding.

Write 降

降

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 降

降 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons6
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

他是降落的。

tā shì jiàngluò de.

He is the one who descended.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

这支笔的价格比原来____低了百分之五十。

The price of this pen has been reduced by 50%.

Common Confusions with 降

降 means to fall or descend, while 让 means to let or allow.

1

我让他降落。 (I let him descend.)

降 means to fall or descend, while 让 means to let or allow.

💡降 is a downward action, while 让 is about permission.

Usage Notes for 降

Confusing 降 with other verbsCommon Error

Learn to distinguish 降 from similar verbs that imply different actions, such as 落 (to fall) or 让 (to allow).

1

不要把降和落混淆。

Do not confuse 降 with 落.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

不要把____和落混淆。

Do not confuse 降 with 落.

Example Sentences for 降 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我之前建议成人服用的剂量可以降到1/2或者1/4。

wǒ zhī qián jiàn yì chéng rén fú yòng de jì liáng kě yǐ jiàng dào1/2 1/2 huò1/4。

The doses I suggested for adults could be halved or quartered.
2
飞机获准降落于不伦瑞克的格林科机场。

fēi jī huò zhǔn jiàng luò yú bù lún ruì kè de gé lín kē jī cháng。

The plane had been cleared for landing at Brunswick's Glynco Airport.
3
这部影片的票房收入开始的时候持续上涨，但是后来急剧下降。

zhè bù yǐng piàn de piào fáng shōu rù kāi shǐ de shí hòu chí xù shàng zhǎng， ， dàn shì hòu lái jí jù xià。

The film opened to healthy box office receipts before rapidly falling off.
4
你可以近距离观察飞机的起降。

nǐ kě yǐ jìn jù lí guān chá fēi jī de qǐ jiàng。

You can watch aircraft take off or land at close quarters.
5
我发现你的差点已从16杆降到了12杆。

wǒ fā xiàn nǐ de chà diǎn yǐ cóng16 16 gān jiàng dào12 le。

I see your handicap is down from 16 to
6
通货膨胀的下降是长期经济衰退中的一线转机。

tōng huò péng zhàng de xià jiàng shì cháng qī jīng jì shuāi tuì zhōng de yī xiàn zhuǎn jī。

The fall in inflation is the silver lining of the prolonged recession.
7
股票经纪人降低了他们的利润预期之后，股价下跌了11便士至293便士。

gǔ piào jīng jì rén jiàng dī le tā mén de lì rùn yù qī zhī hòu， ， gǔ jià xià diē11 le 11 biàn293 shì zhì。

Shares slid 11p to 293p after brokers downgraded their profit estimates.
8
成本降低了30%到50%。

chéng běn jiàng dī le30% 30%50%。

Costs have been cut by 30 to 50 per cent.
9
一些公司已降低了宣传资料中标榜之词的调门。

yī xiē gōng sī yǐ jiàng dī le xuān chuán zī liào zhōng biāo bǎng zhī cí de tiáo mén。

Some companies have toned down the claims on their promotional literature.
10
汽油的价格每加仑降了4便士。

qì yóu de jià gé měi jiā lún jiàng le4 4 biàn。

The price of petrol is coming down by four pence a gallon.

Cultural Notes for 降

💡Did you know?

'降' not only refers to physical descent, but also carries connotations of yielding or giving up, reflecting a deeper cultural understanding of humility and surrender in Chinese philosophy.

Word Family of 降

Words Containing This Character20
下降xiàjiàngto decline
降低jiàngdīto reduce
降jiàngto drop
降落jiàngluòto descend
投降tóuxiángto surrender
降临jiànglínto descend降臨
降价jiàngjiàto cut the price降價
降落伞parachute降落傘
降温jiàngwēncooling降溫
从天而降lit. to drop from the sky (idiom)從天而降
降雨rainfall
降级to demote降級
降生to be born
降水rain and snow
升降rising and lowering昇降
降解to degrade
迫降to force a plane to land
升降机lift升降機
降压to lower one's blood pressure降壓
空降to drop from the sky
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 下降 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 降

降 (jiàng) generally refers to a controlled or intentional dropping or descending, while 落 (luò) typically conveys a more spontaneous or natural falling. For example, 降 can be used in terms of descending from a height, while 落 often refers to something falling down without control. Understanding these nuances can enhance your comprehension of the language.

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