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颚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
èjawn, 15 strokes, radical 页, rank #26324, Very Hard
èpalateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 页, rank #26324, Very Hard
è(e4) T4
  1. 1jaw
  2. 2palate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(顎)è(e4)

The character 颚 (è) refers to the jaw or palate in both anatomical and culinary contexts. It can describe the lower or upper jaw in humans and animals, and is often used in medical or biological discussions regarding oral structures.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#26324DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the jaw and teeth is often linked to overall well-being, making this term significant in discussions about health and diet. Certain foods are thought to affect jaw health and are commonly referenced in dietary practices.

Memory Tip

Visualize a giant jaw (颚) that has a mouthful of food. The top part of the character resembles a roof (𠂇) where the palate sits, while the bottom part represents the jaw (口) that opens wide to eat. Remember the sound 'è' by thinking of a giant mouth saying 'eh?' when surprised by a big bite!

Meanings of 颚

è(e4)
1jaw
2palate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 颚

Simplified
Traditional
15Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 颚

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AI Study Notes for 颚

Memory Mnemonic

Visualize a giant jaw (颚) that has a mouthful of food. The top part of the character resembles a roof (𠂇) where the palate sits, while the bottom part represents the jaw (口) that opens wide to eat. Remember the sound 'è' by thinking of a giant mouth saying 'eh?' when surprised by a big bite!

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone: 颚 is pronounced with a falling tone (è), which is different from similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as medical terminology, rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 颚骨 (jawbone) and 上颚 (upper jaw).

HSK Study Tips

Although 颚 is not included in HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to anatomical terms. Focus on other related words such as 口 (mouth) and 齿 (teeth) to build a more comprehensive understanding of oral anatomy in Mandarin.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the jaw and teeth is often linked to overall well-being, making this term significant in discussions about health and diet. Certain foods are thought to affect jaw health and are commonly referenced in dietary practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 颚 (è) with 口 (kǒu), which means 'mouth.' For instance, saying '我有一个大口' (I have a big mouth) instead of '我有一个大颚' (I have a big jaw) fails to convey the correct anatomical reference.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 颚

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Etymology of 颚

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

head

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 颚?

Decomposition of 颚

IDS Structure⿰咢页
Full Character
=
e4
left
ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 颚?

Write 颚

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

Grammar Patterns of 颚

颚 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

别格的牙关咬得那么紧,连上下____都疼了.

Bigger's teeth clamped so tight that his jaws ached.

Example Sentences for 颚 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
别格的牙关咬得那么紧,连上下颚都疼了.

bié gé de yá guān yǎo dé nà mó jǐn, , lián shàng xià è dū téng.

Bigger's teeth clamped so tight that his jaws ached.
2
冈定长久地凝视这个来客,把他仔细打量了一番, 接着翘起沉重的下颚.

gāng dìng cháng jiǔ dì níng shì zhè gè lái kè, , bǎ tā zī xì dǎ liáng le yī, fān , jiē zháo qiáo qǐ chén zhòng de.

Gondin sized the new comer up with a lengthy stare, thrust out a heavy jaw.

Cultural Notes for 颚

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the jaw and teeth is often linked to overall well-being, making this term significant in discussions about health and diet. Certain foods are thought to affect jaw health and are commonly referenced in dietary practices.

Word Family of 颚

Words Containing This Character3
下颚mandible (lower jaw)下顎
èjaw
小颚mandible (lower jaw)小顎
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 下颚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 颚

颚 specifically refers to the jaw or palate, while 口 simply means 'mouth.'