Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
硬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
硬
yìng
hard
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
stiff
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
strong
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
firm
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
resolutely
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
doggedly
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
good (quality)
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
able (person)
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
硬
yìng
firm, hard, strong; obstinate
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #2237, Hard
yìng(ying4)ying T4
1hard
2stiff
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
硬yìng(ying4)
The character 硬 (yìng) primarily means 'hard' or 'stiff', describing physical properties of objects, such as metal or stone. It can also convey firmness of character, determination, or obstinacy in behavior. In various contexts, it suggests strength or quality, often used to describe resolute individuals or robust materials.
Strokes12Radical石Frequency#2237DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The concept of 'hardness' is significant in Chinese philosophy, often associated with strength of character and perseverance, reflecting cultural values of resilience and steadfastness in the face of difficulties.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong and sturdy Yeti (sounds like 'yìng') lifting a heavy rock. The rock is hard, just like the character itself, which has the radical for stone (石) indicating something substantial and firm.
Meanings of 硬
yìng(ying4)
1hard
2stiff
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 硬 means.
About 硬
硬Simplified
12Strokes
石Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#2237Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 硬
Podcast: 硬
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 硬
Quick Contrast
硬 (yìng) vs 坚 (jiān) — use 硬 for describing physical hardness, while 坚 emphasizes durability or steadfastness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 硬 with other characters that describe softness, like 软 (ruǎn). It's also important to use it appropriately in formal contexts, as it can sometimes come off as too blunt when describing someone's personality. Common collocations include 硬件 (hardware) and 硬道理 (hard logic).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 硬 connects with vocabulary about physical attributes and qualities, like 软 (soft) and 强 (strong). Focus on using it in sentences that compare materials or describe determination in people to reinforce your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 硬 to describe emotions, saying something like '他很硬' (Tā hěn yìng) to mean 'He is tough', which can sound overly harsh. Instead, use '坚强' (jiānqiáng) for emotional strength.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 硬
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 硬, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 硬 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 硬?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 硬 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.
硬 = 石 + 更. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 硬
IDS Structure⿰石更
硬Full character
=
石dan4
left
更geng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 硬?
How to say hard in Chinese
“hard” in Chinese is硬yìng
The character 硬 (yìng) primarily means 'hard' or 'stiff', describing physical properties of objects, such as metal or stone. It can also convey firmness of character, determination, or obstinacy in behavior. In various contexts, it suggests strength or quality, often used to describe resolute individuals or robust materials.
When to use 硬
Be careful not to confuse 硬 with other characters that describe softness, like 软 (ruǎn). It's also important to use it appropriately in formal contexts, as it can sometimes come off as too blunt when describing someone's personality. Common collocations include 硬件 (hardware) and 硬道理 (hard logic).
硬 or something close to it
硬 (yìng) vs 坚 (jiān) — use 硬 for describing physical hardness, while 坚 emphasizes durability or steadfastness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 硬 to describe emotions, saying something like '他很硬' (Tā hěn yìng) to mean 'He is tough', which can sound overly harsh. Instead, use '坚强' (jiānqiáng) for emotional strength.
Write 硬
硬
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 硬 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 硬
硬 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 9 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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他这个人向来吃软不吃____，你不能硬来。
This person has always responded to gentleness, not force — you cannot be heavy-handed with him.
Common confusions with 硬
硬vs应
yīng
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
硬vs影
yǐng
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “hard”?
or
Usage Notes for 硬
Misunderstanding the meaning of 硬Common Error
Learners may confuse 硬 with similar-sounding characters. Remember that 硬 primarily refers to hardness or firmness, not to be mistaken for related concepts.
1
这块石头很硬。
This rock is very hard.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这块石头很____。
This rock is very hard.
Example sentences for 硬 (15)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
最好先伸展一下僵硬的肌肉。
zuìhǎo xiān shēn Zhǎn yíxià jiāngyìng de jīròu。
It is better to stretch the tight muscles first.
2
针对他们各人不同的需要挑选柔软、软硬适中或者坚硬的床垫。
zhēnduì tāmen gè rén bùtóng de xūyào tiāoxuǎn róuruǎn、 ruǎn yìng kuò zhōng huòzhě jiānyìng de chuáng diàn。
Choose a soft, medium or firm mattress to suit their individual needs.
Cooking for too long will make the meat hard, affecting its texture.
14
他用硬物敲打墙壁，试图引起别人的注意。
Tā yòng yìng wù qiāodǎ qiángbì, shìtú yǐnqǐ biérén de zhùyì.
He hit the wall with a hard object, trying to catch others' attention.
15
这些饼干放久了，变得又干又硬。
Zhèxiē bǐnggān fàng jiǔ le, biàn de yòu gān yòu yìng.
These cookies have been left out for too long and have become dry and hard.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 硬?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 硬
Words containing this character20
硬yìnghard
硬盘yìngpánhard disk硬盤
硬币yìngbìcoin硬幣
硬件yìngjiànhardware
强硬qiángyìngtough強硬
僵硬jiāngyìngstiff
硬化yìnghuàto harden
坚硬jiānyìnghard堅硬
硬汉yìnghànman of steel硬漢
硬是yìngshìjust
过硬guòyìngto be up to the mark過硬
肝硬化gānyìnghuàcirrhosis
硬度yìngdùhardness
硬朗yìnglangrobust
生硬shēngyìngstiff
硬着头皮yìngzhetóupíto brace oneself to do sth硬著頭皮
硬要yìngyàoto insist on doing
硬性yìngxìngrigid
硬生生yìngshēngshēngstiff
动脉硬化dòngmàiyìnghuàarteriosclerosis動脈硬化
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 硬
What does 硬盘 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 硬
Synonyms for 硬 include 坚硬 (jiān yìng), which also means hard or solid, and 刚 (gāng), which implies rigidity or toughness. Each of these words can have slightly different contexts, so it's good to understand how they are used in sentences.
You can use 硬 in a sentence to describe something that is hard or firm, such as '这块石头很硬' (This rock is very hard). It can also be used to describe someone's determination, like '他很硬气' (He is very resolute).
硬 (yìng) means 'hard' or 'stiff' in Chinese. It can refer to physical hardness, such as that of materials, or be used metaphorically to describe someone's strong or resolute character.
The correct pronunciation is 'yìng', with a falling tone on the 'ì'.
Yes, 硬 can describe a person's character, indicating they are determined or obstinate.
Yes, it is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially when discussing materials or qualities.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 硬?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
