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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 江 means.
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.
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.
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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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 江 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
江 = 氵 + 工. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 江
IDS Structure⿰氵工
江Full character
=
氵shui3
left
工gong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 江?
How to say surname Jiang in Chinese
“surname Jiang” in Chinese is江jiāng
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.
When to use 江
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.
江 or something close to it
河 (hé) - use 江 for larger rivers, while 河 typically refers to smaller rivers or streams.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 江
江
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Practice writing 江 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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 3 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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
Which one
Which one means “surname Jiang”?
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.
1
他将去江边。
He will go to the river bank.
2
这条江很长。
This river is very long.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他将去____边。
He will go to the river bank.
Example sentences for 江 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
狗鱼主要生活在大江大湖中。
gǒu yú zhǔyào shēnghuó zài dà jiāng dà hú zhōng。
The Pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes.
2
雄伟的长江滚滚东流.
xióngwěi de chángjiāng gǔn gǔn dōng liú.
The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically.
I don't enjoy having a churning stomach but if you are going to win tournaments, you must go through it.
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Word Family of 江
Compounds3
鸿hónga species of wild swan; vast
茳jiāngShichito matgrass
鴻hónga species of wild swan; vast
Words containing this character20
江jiāngriver
江湖jiānghúrivers and lakes
江户jiānghùEdo (old name of Tokyo)江戶
浙江zhèjiāngZhejiang province (Chekiang) in east China, abbr. 浙, capital Hangzhou 杭州
江苏jiāngsūJiangsu 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jiāngnánsouth of Changjiang or Yangtze river
江西jiāngxīJiangxi province (Kiangsi) in southeast China, abbr. 赣, capital Nanchang 南昌
江山jiāngshānlandscape
江原道jiāngyuándàoKangwon province of North Korea
浙江省zhèjiāngshěngZhejiang Province (Chekiang) in east China, abbr. 浙[Zhè], capital Hangzhou 杭州[Hángzhōu]
江泽民jiāngzémínJiang Zemin (1926-), politician, president of PRC 1993-2003江澤民
江苏省jiāngsūshěngJiangsu Province (Kiangsu) in southeast China, abbr. 蘇|苏[Sū], capital Nanjing 南京[Nánjīng]江蘇省
黑龙江hēilóngjiāngAmur river黑龍江
江郎才尽jiānglángcáijìnto have writer's block江郎才盡
珠江zhūjiāngPearl River (Guangdong)
江河jiānghéYangtze and Yellow rivers
黑龙江省hēilóngjiāngshěngHeilongjiang 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fānjiāngdǎohǎifig. overwhelming
江西省jiāngxīshěngJiangxi Province (Kiangsi) in southeast China, abbr. 贛|赣[Gàn], capital Nanchang 南昌[Nánchāng]
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 江
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.
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