HSK 7, nr, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #20616, Hard
丛
cóng
collection
HSK 7, nr, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #20616, Hard
丛
cóng
collection of books
HSK 7, nr, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #20616, Hard
丛
cóng
thicket
HSK 7, nr, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #20616, Hard
丛
cóng
bush, shrub; thicket; collection
HSK 7, nr, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #20616, Hard
cóng(cong2) T2
1cluster
2collection
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March 24, 2026
丛(叢)cóng(cong2)
The character 丛 (cóng) refers to a cluster or collection of things, often used in contexts like a thicket or a bush. It can also denote a collection of books or items, emphasizing the idea of grouping or gathering together in one place.
Strokes5Radical一Frequency#20616DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, thickets and clusters of plants are often associated with rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of landscapes, reflecting the importance of nature in traditional Chinese philosophy and art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small forest where bushes are tightly packed together, creating a 'thicket' of greenery. The character 丛 resembles a gathering of trees or shrubs, and the pronunciation 'cóng' sounds like 'cong' in 'congregate,' which also means to gather together.
Meanings of 丛
cóng(cong2)
1cluster
2collection
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 丛
丛Simplified
叢Traditional
5Strokes
一Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#20616Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 丛
Podcast: 丛
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AI Study Notes for 丛
Quick Contrast
丛 (cóng) vs 树 (shù) — use 丛 when referring to a cluster or collection, while 树 specifically denotes a single tree.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small forest where bushes are tightly packed together, creating a 'thicket' of greenery. The character 丛 resembles a gathering of trees or shrubs, and the pronunciation 'cóng' sounds like 'cong' in 'congregate,' which also means to gather together.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 丛 with similar characters like 株 (zhū), which refers to a single plant or stem. 丛 is more about the group or collection aspect. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literary descriptions of nature.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, students should focus on its usage in phrases like 丛林 (cónglín, meaning forest) and its application in literature. Understanding its nuances can enhance comprehension of more complex texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, thickets and clusters of plants are often associated with rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of landscapes, reflecting the importance of nature in traditional Chinese philosophy and art.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 丛 interchangeably with other characters for 'group' or 'collection,' such as 群 (qún). For example, saying '丛人' (cóng rén) instead of '群人' (qún rén) for 'group of people' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丛
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Grammar Patterns of 丛
丛 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 5 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
还没看到他们，我便听到他们穿过矮树____过来的声音。
I heard them coming, crashing through the undergrowth, before I saw them.
Example Sentences for 丛 (10)
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1
还没看到他们，我便听到他们穿过矮树丛过来的声音。
huán méi kàn dào tā mén， ， wǒ biàn tīng dào tā mén chuān guò ǎi shù cóng guò lái de shēng。
I heard them coming, crashing through the undergrowth, before I saw them.
2
灌木丛和树木在风中摇晃。
guàn mù cóng hé shù mù zài fēng zhōng yáo huǎng。
The bushes and trees were blowing in the wind.
3
他们花了36个小时穿过茂密的莫桑比克丛林。
tā mén huā le36 36 gè xiǎo shí chuān guò mào mì de mò sāng bǐ kè cóng。
They walked through the dense Mozambican bush for thirty six hours.
4
那条小路非常陡峭，而且长满了灌木丛。
nà tiáo xiǎo lù fēi cháng dǒu qiào， ， ér qiě cháng mǎn le guàn mù。
Below the bridge we could just discern a narrow, weedy ditch.
10
一些小东西在帐篷四周的草丛里窸窸窣窣地动着。
yī xiē xiǎo dōng xī zài zhàng péng sì zhōu de cǎo cóng lǐ xī xī sū sū dì dòng zháo。
Small things stirred in the grass around the tent.
Cultural Notes for 丛
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, thickets and clusters of plants are often associated with rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of landscapes, reflecting the importance of nature in traditional Chinese philosophy and art.
Word Family of 丛
Words Containing This Character17
丛林cónglínjungle叢林
丛cóngcluster叢
树丛thicket樹叢
草丛underbrush草叢
丛书a series of books叢書
灌木丛shrub灌木叢
丛生overgrown叢生
花丛inflorescence花叢
人丛crowd of people人叢
灌丛scrub灌叢
丛谈forum叢談
丛集to pile up叢集
丛台Congtai district of Handan city 邯鄲市|邯郸市[Hándānshì], Hebei叢臺
丛台区Congtai district of Handan city 邯鄲市|邯郸市[Hándānshì], Hebei叢臺區
孔丛子the K'ung family Masters' anthology, collection of dialogues between Confucius and his disciples, possibly forged in third century by Wang Su 王肅|王肃[WángSù]孔叢子
纤维丛fiber bundle (math.)纖維叢
百弊丛生All the ill effects appear. (idiom)百弊叢生
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 丛林 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 丛
You can use it in sentences like '这个地方有很多丛林' (zhège dìfāng yǒu hěnduō cónglín), meaning 'There are many thickets in this area.'
丛 is more commonly found in written Chinese, especially in literature, rather than in everyday spoken language.
Common collocations include 丛林 (cónglín, forest) and 丛书 (cóngshū, collection of books).
