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角 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
角juéangleHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juécornerHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juérole (theater)HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéhornHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéto competeHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéhorn-shapedHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéancient three legged wine vesselHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéunit of money equal to 0.1 yuanHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juéthird note of pentatonic scaleHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角juésurname JueHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎoangleHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎocornerHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎorole (theater)HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎohornHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎoto competeHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎohorn-shapedHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎoancient three legged wine vesselHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎounit of money equal to 0.1 yuanHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎothird note of pentatonic scaleHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
角jiǎosurname JueHSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 角, rank #1916, Medium
jiǎo(jiao3)jiao
primary
T3
  1. 1angle
  2. 2corner
Also a Chinese surname, Jue — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

角jiǎo(jiao3)

The character 角 (jiǎo) primarily means 'angle' or 'corner' and is commonly used in geometry and everyday contexts. It can also refer to a horn or horn-shaped objects, a role in theater, and even a monetary unit equivalent to 0.1 yuan. Its versatility makes it applicable in various fields, including mathematics, finance, and cultural references.

Strokes7Radical角Frequency#1916DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the 三足鼎 (sān zú dǐng), an ancient three-legged wine vessel, is a significant artifact, and the term 角 is often associated with this historical context. The character also appears in traditional music, referring to the third note of the pentatonic scale.

Memory tip

Imagine a triangle, which has three corners (角) and three angles. Picture each corner being a horn (like a musical horn) that plays a note when you touch it, reminding you of the character's pronunciation, 'jiǎo.' The shape of the character itself resembles a horn pointing outwards, linking the visual form to its meaning.

Meanings of 角

jiǎo(jiao3)
primary
1angle
2corner
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 角 means.

About 角

角Simplified
7Strokes
角Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1916Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

Podcast: 角

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Podcast: 角

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AI study notes for 角

Quick Contrast

角 (jiǎo) vs 角落 (jiǎoluò) — use 角 for 'angle' or 'corner' in a general sense, while 角落 specifically refers to a corner of a room or space.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use the correct tone when pronouncing 角 (jiǎo), as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other characters. In informal contexts, it's common to refer to money in terms of 角, such as ‘三角’ (three jiao), but in formal writing, using the full term '元' (yuan) may be preferred. Note that it can also refer to roles in a performance setting, so context is key.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 3 word, 角 (jiǎo) connects with other basic terms related to geometry and finances. Students should focus on its multiple meanings and practice in sentences to solidify understanding. Relating it to other HSK vocabulary that involves measurement or finance can enhance recall.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 角 (jiǎo) with 觉 (jué), leading to mix-ups in pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我有三觉' instead of '我有三角' when referring to money is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 角

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Etymology of 角

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a horn.

Memory hint

A rhinoceros or other animal horn

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 角?

Decomposition of 角

IDS Structure⿱⺈用
角Full character
=
⺈Dao1
top
用yong4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 角?

How to say angle in Chinese

“angle” in Chinese is角jué

The character 角 (jiǎo) primarily means 'angle' or 'corner' and is commonly used in geometry and everyday contexts. It can also refer to a horn or horn-shaped objects, a role in theater, and even a monetary unit equivalent to 0.1 yuan. Its versatility makes it applicable in various fields, including mathematics, finance, and cultural references.

When to use 角

Be careful to use the correct tone when pronouncing 角 (jiǎo), as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other characters. In informal contexts, it's common to refer to money in terms of 角, such as ‘三角’ (three jiao), but in formal writing, using the full term '元' (yuan) may be preferred. Note that it can also refer to roles in a performance setting, so context is key.

角 or something close to it

角 (jiǎo) vs 角落 (jiǎoluò) — use 角 for 'angle' or 'corner' in a general sense, while 角落 specifically refers to a corner of a room or space.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 角 (jiǎo) with 觉 (jué), leading to mix-ups in pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我有三觉' instead of '我有三角' when referring to money is incorrect.

Write 角

角

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

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Grammar patterns of 角

角 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 10 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

从这个____度来看,很多问题都可以解决。

From this perspective, many problems can be solved.

Common confusions with 角

角vs脚
jiǎo

Same pronunciation but different meanings

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “angle”?

or

Usage Notes for 角

Distinguishing meaningsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 角 as 'horn' or 'angle' without context.

1

这个角的形状很独特。

The shape of this angle is very unique.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个____的形状很独特。

The shape of this angle is very unique.

Example sentences for 角 (11)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nangle1
1
从数学的角度来看,这个问题很简单。

Cóng shùxué de jiǎodù lái kàn, zhège wèntí hěn jiǎndān.

From a mathematical angle, this problem is very simple.
nsurname Jue10
2
从务实角度来说,音乐电视网的生存依赖于把年轻人市场卖给广告商。

cóng wùshí jiǎodù lái shuō, yīnyuè diànshì wǎng de shēngcún yīlài yú bǎ niánqīng rén shìchǎng mài gěi guǎnggào Shāng。

Pragmatically, MTV's survival depends on selling the youth market to advertisers.
3
把你的眉毛修剪成越往外眼角越细的月牙形。

bǎ nǐ de méimao xiū jiǎn chéng yuè wǎng wài yǎn jiǎo yuè xì de yuè yá xíng。

Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners.
4
从政治角度来说,你认为这些举措有效吗?

cóng zhèngzhì jiǎodù lái shuō, nǐ rènwéi zhèxiē jǔcuò yǒuxiào ma?

Politically speaking, do you think that these moves have been effective?
5
别钻牛角尖了。你知道我指什么。

bié zuān niú jiǎo jiān le。 nǐ zhīdào wǒ zhǐ shénme。

Don't split hairs. You know what I'm getting at.
6
显示你身高的指针在右上角。

xiǎnshì nǐ shēngāo de zhǐ zhēn zài yòu shàng jiǎo。

The needles that indicate your height are at the top right-hand corner.
7
从法律的角度来说,当地税务局的做法是无可厚非的。

cóng fǎlǜ de jiǎodù lái shuō, dāngdì shuìwù jú de zuòfǎ shì wúkěhòufēi de。

Legally, the local tax office is in the right.
8
索尔特捏住包的外角,把它倒过来晃了晃。

Suǒ ěr tè niē zhù bāo de wài jiǎo, bǎ tā dào guòlái huǎng le huǎng。

Salter held the bag by the corners and shook it upside down.
9
试着从我的角度来看这件事。

shì zhe cóng wǒ de jiǎodù lái kàn zhè jiàn shì。

Try to look at this from my point of view.
10
她很快就对母亲这一角色驾轻就熟了。

tā hěn kuài jiù duì mǔqīn zhè yī juésè jià qīng jiù shóu le。

She took to mothering like a duck to water.
11
这一角色让她全情投入其中。

zhè yī juésè ràng tā quán qíng tóurù qízhōng。

This role gave her something to get her teeth into.

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Cultural Notes for 角

💡Did you know?

在古代,中国人用‘角’来形容动物的角,如犀牛角。犀牛角在中医中被用作药材,象征着力量与保护。

Word Family of 角

Compounds53
解jiěsurname Xie
确quèvariant of 確
触chùto touch
觸chùto butt, to gore, to ram; to touch
觥gōnga horn of wine
埆què
斛húancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters
桷juérafter; Malus toringo
觔jīn
觖juéto long for; to criticize; dissatisfied
觚gūjug, goblet; rule, law
觜zībeak
觝dǐ
觞shāngwine cup; to propose a toast; feast
觡gé
觩qiú
觫sùto start, to tremble with fear
觭jī
觯zhìa horn of wine
觱bìTartar horn; chill wind
觳húgoblet, horn; frightened
觵gōng
觷xué
觺yí
觼jué
觽xī
觾yàn
觿xī
唃gǔ
崅què
捔jué
觓qiú
觕cū
觗zhì
觘chào
觙jí
觛dàn
觟huà
觠quán
觢shì
觤guǐ
觧jiě
觨hùn
觪xīng
觬ní
觮lù
觰zhā
觲xīng
觴shāngwine cup; to propose a toast; feast
觶zhì
觹xī
觻lì
鵤jiao
Words containing this character20
角色juésèrole
角度jiǎodùangle
角jiǎoangle
主角zhǔjuélead
角落jiǎoluònook
三角sānjiǎotriangle
角逐juézhúto tussle
视角shìjiǎoviewpoint視角
角膜jiǎomócornea
五角大楼wǔjiǎodàlóuthe Pentagon五角大樓
嘴角zuǐjiǎocorner of the mouth
拐角guǎijiǎocorner
长三角chángsānjiǎoYangtze River Delta長三角
配角pèijuéminor role
眼角yǎnjiǎocanthus
三角形sānjiǎoxíngtriangle
角球jiǎoqiúcorner kick (in soccer)
转角zhuǎnjiǎocorner轉角
墙角qiángjiǎocorner (junction of two walls)牆角
号角hàojiǎobugle horn號角
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 角

What does 触 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 角

角 is pronounced 'jiǎo' in Mandarin, and it can be used in mathematical contexts to describe angles, in everyday language to refer to corners, or in financial discussions as a unit of currency. It's versatile in usage, making it a common character in various situations.

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