HSK 4, nr, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7445, Medium
江
jiāng
river
HSK 4, nr, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7445, Medium
江
jiāng
>条[tiáo],道[dào]
HSK 4, nr, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7445, Medium
江
jiāng
large river; the Yangtze; surname
HSK 4, nr, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7445, Medium
jiāng(jiang1) T1
1river
2>条[tiáo],道[dào]
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March 24, 2026
江jiāng(jiang1)
The character 江 (Jiāng) primarily refers to a river, particularly a large one, such as the Yangtze River in China. It is often used in geographical contexts or when discussing waterways, and can also be a common Chinese surname. The nuance of the character can imply a sense of flow or movement, characteristic of rivers.
Strokes6Radical氵Frequency#7445DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The Yangtze River, referred to as 长江 (Cháng Jiāng), is the longest river in Asia and a critical part of Chinese culture and history, often symbolizing prosperity and life. Many famous historical events and cities are located along its banks, making it a significant cultural landmark.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'J' shaped river flowing through a landscape. The 'J' stands for 'Jiāng' and the shape mimics the curves of a river. Picture it winding its way like a snake, indicating its importance and size, which helps you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 江
jiāng(jiang1)
1river
2large river; the Yangtze; surname
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 江
江Simplified
6Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#7445Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 江
Podcast: 江
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AI Study Notes for 江
Quick Contrast
河 (hé) - use 江 for larger rivers, while 河 typically refers to smaller rivers or streams.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant 'J' shaped river flowing through a landscape. The 'J' stands for 'Jiāng' and the shape mimics the curves of a river. Picture it winding its way like a snake, indicating its importance and size, which helps you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
江 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when referring to significant rivers. Common collocations include 江河 (rivers), and it is essential to note the tone when pronouncing it to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. Learners should avoid using 江 in contexts referring to small streams, where 小溪 (xiǎo xī) would be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
While 江 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to common words related to water and geography, such as 河 (hé, river) and 海 (hǎi, sea). Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially in texts discussing geography or nature.
Cultural Note
The Yangtze River, referred to as 长江 (Cháng Jiāng), is the longest river in Asia and a critical part of Chinese culture and history, often symbolizing prosperity and life. Many famous historical events and cities are located along its banks, making it a significant cultural landmark.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 江 with 河 (hé), thinking they are interchangeable. However, 江 refers specifically to larger rivers, while 河 is more general. For example, saying '小江' (xiǎo jiāng) to mean small river is incorrect; it should be 小河 (xiǎo hé).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 江
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Grammar Patterns of 江
江 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 4 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 4
Complete the Sentence
狗鱼主要生活在大____大湖中。
The Pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes.
Common Confusions with 江
江vs将
jiāng
Same pronunciation but different meanings and uses.
江vs强
qiáng
Similar pronunciation and structure, but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "river"?
or
Usage Notes for 江
Confusion with Other TermsCommon Error
Learners may confuse 江 with similar-sounding words like 将 and 强, which have different meanings.
Hong Yun became known after she had narrated the TV programme of the Story of the Yangtze River.
10
我并不喜欢胃里翻江倒海的,但是要想赢得锦标赛,就得闯过这一关.
wǒ bìng bù xǐ huān wèi lǐ fān jiāng dǎo hǎi de, , dàn shì yào xiǎng yíng dé jǐn biāo, sài , jiù dé chuǎng guò zhè.
I don't enjoy having a churning stomach but if you are going to win tournaments, you must go through it.
Cultural Notes for 江
🏮Cultural insight
The Yangtze River, referred to as 长江 (Cháng Jiāng), is the longest river in Asia and a critical part of Chinese culture and history, often symbolizing prosperity and life. Many famous historical events and cities are located along its banks, making it a significant cultural landmark.
Word Family of 江
Compounds3
鸿hong2a species of wild swan; vast
茳jiang1Shichito matgrass
鴻hong2a species of wild swan; vast
Words Containing This Character20
江jiāngriver
江湖rivers and lakes
江户Edo (old name of Tokyo)江戶
浙江Zhejiang province (Chekiang) in east China, abbr. 浙, capital Hangzhou 杭州
江苏Jiangsu province (Kiangsu) in southeast China, abbr. 蘇|苏, capital Nanjing 南京江蘇
长江chángjiāngYangtze River, or Chang Jiang長江
江南south of Changjiang or Yangtze river
江西Jiangxi province (Kiangsi) in southeast China, abbr. 赣, capital Nanchang 南昌
江山landscape
江原道Kangwon province of North Korea
浙江省Zhejiang Province (Chekiang) in east China, abbr. 浙[Zhè], capital Hangzhou 杭州[Hángzhōu]
江泽民Jiang Zemin (1926-), politician, president of PRC 1993-2003江澤民
江苏省Jiangsu Province (Kiangsu) in southeast China, abbr. 蘇|苏[Sū], capital Nanjing 南京[Nánjīng]江蘇省
黑龙江Amur river黑龍江
江郎才尽to have writer's block江郎才盡
珠江Pearl River (Guangdong)
江河Yangtze and Yellow rivers
黑龙江省Heilongjiang Province (Heilungkiang) in northeast China, abbr. 黑, capital Harbin 哈爾濱|哈尔滨[Hā'ěrbīn]黑龍江省
翻江倒海fig. overwhelming
江西省Jiangxi Province (Kiangsi) in southeast China, abbr. 贛|赣[Gàn], capital Nanchang 南昌[Nánchāng]
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 江
江 (jiāng) typically refers to large rivers, while 河 (hé) can refer to any river, regardless of size. For example, the Yangtze is called '长江' (Chángjiāng), whereas smaller rivers would use the term '河'. Understanding this distinction helps in accurately describing water bodies in Chinese.
Yes, 江 (jiāng) is a common surname in China, though not among the most prevalent. It is often associated with families that may have historical ties to regions near rivers, reflecting the importance of waterways in Chinese culture and geography.
江 (jiāng) primarily means 'river' in Chinese, specifically referring to larger rivers such as the Yangtze River. It can also be a surname in China. The character is often used in contexts relating to bodies of water.
江 can be used in sentences to refer to rivers, such as '长江是中国最长的河流' (Chángjiāng shì zhōngguó zuì cháng de héliú), meaning 'The Yangtze is the longest river in China.' It can also appear in expressions related to water or geography.
Common phrases include 江河 (rivers), and 长江 (Yangtze River). These phrases underline its geographical significance.
Yes, 江 is a common Chinese surname and can be used in formal introductions.
The correct pronunciation is 'Jiāng' with a high level tone, similar to the sound of 'John' but with a rising tone.
