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纲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
纲
gāng
head rope of a fishing net
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
guiding principle
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
key link
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
class (taxonomy)
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
outline
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
program
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
纲
gāng
program, outline; principle, guiding thread
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #17021, Very Hard
gāng(gang1)gang T1
1head rope of a fishing net
2guiding principle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
纲(綱)gāng(gang1)
The character 纲 (gāng) refers to the main rope or guiding thread that holds something together, often used metaphorically to describe guiding principles or outlines of concepts. It is commonly used in academic and organizational contexts to denote main ideas or frameworks that structure information.
Strokes7Radical纟Frequency#17021DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese education, the concept of having a clear '纲' or outline is highly valued, particularly in teaching and learning environments where clarity and structure are essential for effective communication and understanding.
Memory tip
Imagine a fisherman holding the 'head rope' (纲) of his net, which represents the main support for catching fish. The character 纲 has the radical for 'rope' (纟) on the left, connecting its meaning to something that binds or organizes.
Meanings of 纲
gāng(gang1)
1head rope of a fishing net
2guiding principle
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 纲 means.
About 纲
纲Simplified
綱Traditional
7Strokes
纟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#17021Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 纲
Podcast: 纲
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AI study notes for 纲
Quick Contrast
纲 (gāng) vs 领 (lǐng) — use 纲 for main ideas or frameworks, while 领 refers to leadership or guidance.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 纲 with similar-sounding words, such as 钢 (gāng), which means 'steel.' In formal contexts, 纲 is often used in academic writing to refer to outlines or guiding principles, so ensure you use it appropriately in such settings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 纲 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other words involving structure and principles, such as 理 (lǐ, reason) and 线 (xiàn, line). Focus on its usage in outlining and structuring ideas in both written and spoken Chinese.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 纲 with 纲要 (gāngyào), which means 'summary' or 'essentials,' thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 纲 specifically refers to the main guiding principle or outline.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 纲
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Tone practice
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How well do you know 纲?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 纲 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.
纲 = 纟 + 冈. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 纲
IDS Structure⿰纟冈
纲Full character
=
纟si1
left
冈gang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 纲?
How to say head rope of a fishing net in Chinese
“head rope of a fishing net” in Chinese is纲gāng
The character 纲 (gāng) refers to the main rope or guiding thread that holds something together, often used metaphorically to describe guiding principles or outlines of concepts. It is commonly used in academic and organizational contexts to denote main ideas or frameworks that structure information.
When to use 纲
Be careful not to confuse 纲 with similar-sounding words, such as 钢 (gāng), which means 'steel.' In formal contexts, 纲 is often used in academic writing to refer to outlines or guiding principles, so ensure you use it appropriately in such settings.
纲 or something close to it
纲 (gāng) vs 领 (lǐng) — use 纲 for main ideas or frameworks, while 领 refers to leadership or guidance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 纲 with 纲要 (gāngyào), which means 'summary' or 'essentials,' thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 纲 specifically refers to the main guiding principle or outline.
Write 纲
纲
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Practice writing 纲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 纲
纲 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 7 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
稍有不满便会被上____上线。
Any signs of discontent tend to be magnified and overanalyzed.
