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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)
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 角

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

Podcast: 角

JasonAmy

Podcast: 角

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 角

Pictograph of a horn.

  1. 1The giveawayA rhinoceros or other animal horn
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

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

Want the full history of 角? 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 角?

Decomposition of 角

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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

Complete the Sentence

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

Spot the Difference

Which character 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

Fill in the Blank

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 wù shí jiǎo dù lái shuō, , yīn lè diàn shì wǎng de shēng cún yī lài yú bǎ nián qīng rén shì cháng mài gěi guǎng gào。

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 méi máo 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 zhèng zhì jiǎo dù lái shuō, , nǐ rèn wéi zhè xiē jǔ cuò yǒu xiào?

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 zhī dào wǒ zhǐ shí。

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

xiǎn shì nǐ shēn gāo 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 fǎ lǜ de jiǎo dù lái shuō, , dāng dì shuì wù jú de zuò fǎ shì wú kě hòu fēi。

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 dǎo guò lái huǎng le。

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 zháo cóng wǒ de jiǎo dù 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 mǔ qīn zhè yī jiǎo sè jià qīng jiù shú 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 jiǎo sè ràng tā quán qíng tóu rù qí zhōng。

This role gave her something to get her teeth into.

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jie3surname Xie
确que4variant of 確
触chu4to touch
觸chu4to butt, to gore, to ram; to touch
觥gong1a horn of wine
埆
斛hu2ancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters
桷jue2rafter; Malus toringo
觔
觖jue2to long for; to criticize; dissatisfied
觚gu1jug, goblet; rule, law
觜zi1beak
觝
觞shang1wine cup; to propose a toast; feast
觡
觩
觫su4to start, to tremble with fear
觭
觯zhi4a horn of wine
觱bi4Tartar horn; chill wind
觳hu2goblet, horn; frightened
觵
觷
觺
觼
觽
觾
觿
唃
崅
捔
觓
觕
觗
觘
觙
觛
觟
觠
觢
觤
觧
觨
觪
觬
觮
觰
觲
觴shang1wine cup; to propose a toast; feast
觶
觹
觻
鵤
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cornea
五角大楼the Pentagon五角大樓
嘴角corner of the mouth
拐角corner
长三角Yangtze River Delta長三角
配角minor role
眼角canthus
三角形triangle
角球corner kick (in soccer)
转角corner轉角
墙角corner (junction of two walls)牆角
号角bugle horn號角
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 解 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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