Meanings of 装
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Podcast: 装
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AI Study Notes for 装
装 (zhuāng) vs 假装 (jiǎzhuāng) — use 装 for dressing or adorning, while 假装 specifically means to pretend or feign.
Be cautious with the usage of 装 in different contexts; it can imply both literal dressing and metaphorical 'dressing up' or pretending. It is commonly used in informal contexts, but ensure to use it appropriately in formal writing when discussing installations or technical matters. Typical collocations include 装饰 (to decorate) and 装备 (to equip).
As an HSK 5 word, 装 connects well with other HSK vocabulary related to clothing and roles, such as 服装 (clothing) and 演员 (actor). Focus on understanding its different meanings and applications in both casual and formal contexts as you expand your vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 装 with 服 (clothing) when referring to wearing clothes; for instance, saying '我装衣服' (I dress clothes) should be corrected to '我穿衣服' (I wear clothes). Additionally, using 装 to imply 'to pretend' can be misinterpreted if the context is not clear.
Pronunciation of 装
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Jason Explains 装 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 装 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.
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Etymology of 装
Phonosemantic compound. 衣 represents the meaning and 壮 represents the sound. Simplified form of 裝.
clothes
Origin
装 = 衣 + 壮. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 装
Parts
Which of these is part of 装?
How to say adornment in Chinese
“adornment” in Chinese is装
The character 装 (zhuāng) primarily means 'to adorn' or 'to dress,' and is used in contexts related to clothing and costumes. It can also imply actions such as pretending or playing a role, as well as installing or fixing something. This versatility makes it applicable in both everyday scenarios, like getting dressed, and in more technical settings, such as equipment installation.
When to use 装
Be cautious with the usage of 装 in different contexts; it can imply both literal dressing and metaphorical 'dressing up' or pretending. It is commonly used in informal contexts, but ensure to use it appropriately in formal writing when discussing installations or technical matters. Typical collocations include 装饰 (to decorate) and 装备 (to equip).
装 or something close to it
装 (zhuāng) vs 假装 (jiǎzhuāng) — use 装 for dressing or adorning, while 假装 specifically means to pretend or feign.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 装 with 服 (clothing) when referring to wearing clothes; for instance, saying '我装衣服' (I dress clothes) should be corrected to '我穿衣服' (I wear clothes). Additionally, using 装 to imply 'to pretend' can be misinterpreted if the context is not clear.
Write 装
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Practice writing 装 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 装
装 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 13 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.
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这是我装的衣服。
This is the clothing I adorned.
Build it
Put the words in order to say “This is the clothing I adorned.”.
Common Confusions with 装
Shares pronunciation but has a different meaning and context.
装 can mean to pretend or to install, whereas 装得 is used to express how well one is pretending.
他装得很像。
装 can mean to pretend or to install, whereas 装得 is used to express how well one is pretending.
Which one
Which one means “adornment”?
Usage Notes for 装
'装' means to adorn or pretend, while '装饰' specifically refers to decoration.
我喜欢装饰我的房间。
I like to decorate my room.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我喜欢____饰我的房间。
I like to decorate my room.
Example Sentences for 装 (10)
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Word Family of 装
Words with 装
What does 假装 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 装
Common phrases that include 装 are '装饰' (zhuāng shì), which means 'to decorate,' and '装逼' (zhuāng bī), a colloquial term meaning 'to show off.' These phrases highlight the versatility of the character in different contexts.
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