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March 24, 2026
伤(傷)shāng(shang1)
The character 伤 (shāng) primarily means 'to injure' or 'to harm,' and can refer to both physical wounds and emotional pain. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe injuries or in discussions about emotional distress.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#682DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there are many idioms related to 伤 that express emotional pain or loss, reflecting the importance of emotional well-being in societal interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone getting hurt while trying to sing (shāng sounds like 'song'). The character has a '刀' (knife) radical that represents harm, as if the knife is causing injury.
Meanings of 伤
shāng(shang1)
1to injure
2injury
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 伤
伤Simplified
傷Traditional
6Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#682Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 伤
Podcast: 伤
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AI Study Notes for 伤
Quick Contrast
伤 (shāng) vs 损 (sǔn) — use 伤 for personal injuries or emotional harm, while 损 typically refers to loss or damage in a broader context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine someone getting hurt while trying to sing (shāng sounds like 'song'). The character has a '刀' (knife) radical that represents harm, as if the knife is causing injury.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 伤 with other similar-sounding words, such as 商 (shāng) which means 'business.' It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but the phrase 受伤 (shòu shāng) is a common collocation meaning 'to get injured.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 伤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other words related to health and injury, such as 病 (bìng, illness) and 疼 (téng, pain). Students should focus on recognizing it in context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there are many idioms related to 伤 that express emotional pain or loss, reflecting the importance of emotional well-being in societal interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 伤 with similar characters; for example, saying 伤病 (shāng bìng) instead of the correct term 受伤 (shòu shāng) for 'to be injured.' Always remember the correct collocations to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伤
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Grammar Patterns of 伤
伤 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 4 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.
Nerve cells have limited ability to regenerate if destroyed.
4
你脸上的淤伤是怎么搞的？
nǐ liǎn shàng de yū shāng shì zěn mó gǎo de？
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?
5
遗憾的是，这个快乐的故事结局却比较伤感。
yí hàn de shì， ， zhè gè kuài lè de gù shì jié jú què bǐ jiào shāng。
Unfortunately, this happy story finishes on a more sombre note.
6
受害者受了重伤，大量失血。
shòu hài zhě shòu le zhòng shāng， ， dà liáng shī。
The victim suffered a dreadful injury and lost a lot of blood.
7
克纳汉因为扭伤脖子而错过了联赛。
kè nà hàn yīn wéi niǔ shāng bó zǐ ér cuò guò le lián sài。
Kernaghan missed the United game after he ricked his neck.
8
他因摔倒而严重扭伤了脚踝。
tā yīn shuāi dǎo ér yán zhòng niǔ shāng le jiǎo huái。
He had wrenched his ankle badly from the force of the fall.
9
枪响了，比顿再次受伤。
qiāng xiǎng le， ， bǐ dùn zài cì shòu。
The gun was fired and Beaton was wounded a second time.
10
亚辛试图从警察手中逃脱时受了重伤。
yà xīn shì tú cóng jǐng chá shǒu zhōng táo tuō shí shòu le zhòng shāng。
Yasin had seriously hurt himself while trying to escape from the police.
Cultural Notes for 伤
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, injuries are often treated with herbal remedies and acupuncture, reflecting a holistic approach to healing. The character 伤 is used not only for physical injuries but also metaphorically for emotional wounds.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, there are many idioms related to 伤 that express emotional pain or loss, reflecting the importance of emotional well-being in societal interactions.
📜Proverb
伤害别人就是伤害自己 (Harming others is harming oneself). This Chinese proverb emphasizes the interconnectedness of people and the consequences of one's actions.
Word Family of 伤
Words Containing This Character20
伤shānginjury傷
伤害shānghàito injure傷害
受伤shòushāngharmed受傷
伤心shāngxīnto grieve傷心
伤口shāngkǒuwound傷口
损伤sǔnshāngto harm損傷
悲伤bēishāngsad悲傷
伤亡shāngwángcasualties傷亡
创伤chuāngshāngwound創傷
伤感shānggǎnsad傷感
烧伤burn (injury)燒傷
伤痕shānghénscar傷痕
重伤zhòngshāngseriously hurt重傷
忧伤distressed憂傷
伤势shāngshìcondition of an injury傷勢
伤痛sorrow傷痛
伤疤scar傷疤
外伤injury外傷
伤员shāngyuánwounded person傷員
伤人to injure sb傷人
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 伤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伤
伤 (shāng) typically refers to the act of injuring or the concept of injury itself, while 受伤 (shòushāng) specifically means 'to be injured' or 'to sustain an injury'. You would use 伤 to describe the injury, and 受伤 to describe someone who has been hurt.
Yes, 伤 (shāng) can be used in both physical and emotional contexts. It can describe physical injuries, like cuts or bruises, as well as emotional pain, such as heartbreak or sadness. This versatility makes it a common word in everyday conversation.
伤 (shāng) means 'to injure' or 'injury'. It can refer to both a physical wound and the act of causing harm. In Chinese, it is commonly used in contexts related to health, accidents, or emotional pain.
You can use 伤 (shāng) in sentences like '他伤了我的手' (Tā shāng le wǒ de shǒu), which means 'He injured my hand'. It can also be used in expressions related to emotional hurt, such as '这让我很伤心' (Zhè ràng wǒ hěn shāngxīn), meaning 'This makes me very sad'.
Yes, 伤 can describe emotional harm, such as in phrases like 伤心 (shāng xīn), meaning 'to feel sad'.
