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March 24, 2026
僵jiāng(jiang1)
The character 僵 (jiāng) typically refers to rigidity or a state of being motionless. It can describe both physical stiffness, such as a corpse, and metaphorical deadlocks in situations where progress cannot be made. This term is often used in discussions about difficult circumstances or figurative 'stiffness' in negotiations.
Strokes15Radical亻Frequency#9541DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese folklore, the concept of a 'stiff' corpse relates to the myth of the 'jiangshi' (僵尸), a reanimated corpse that moves stiffly, reflecting cultural views on death and the afterlife. This character thus connects deeply with traditional stories about the supernatural.
Memory Tip
Imagine a statue (the character's form suggests rigidity) that stands so still it becomes part of the scenery, representing the idea of being motionless or stiff. The pronunciation 'jiāng' can sound like 'jang', akin to a stiff jangle of metal that doesn't move.
Meanings of 僵
jiāng(jiang1)
1rigid
2deadlock
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 僵
僵Simplified
15Strokes
亻Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#9541Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 僵
Podcast: 僵
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AI Study Notes for 僵
Quick Contrast
僵 (jiāng) vs 死 (sǐ) — use 僵 when emphasizing rigidity or immobility, while 死 focuses on the state of being dead.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a statue (the character's form suggests rigidity) that stands so still it becomes part of the scenery, representing the idea of being motionless or stiff. The pronunciation 'jiāng' can sound like 'jang', akin to a stiff jangle of metal that doesn't move.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 僵 (jiāng) with similarly pronounced characters. It is primarily used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to appear more in written language. Common collocations include 僵局 (jiāngjú, deadlock) and 僵硬 (jiāngyìng, stiff).
HSK Study Tips
While 僵 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary about states and conditions such as 硬 (yìng, hard) and 冻 (dòng, freeze). Students should focus on using 僵 in context, especially in discussing obstacles or rigidity.
Cultural Note
In Chinese folklore, the concept of a 'stiff' corpse relates to the myth of the 'jiangshi' (僵尸), a reanimated corpse that moves stiffly, reflecting cultural views on death and the afterlife. This character thus connects deeply with traditional stories about the supernatural.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 僵 (jiāng) with 僵硬 (jiāngyìng) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. Remember that 僵 stands alone as a noun, while 僵硬 is an adjective meaning 'stiff'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 僵
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Grammar Patterns of 僵
僵 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 4 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.
"I just stiffened up, and the more they told me to 'be natural', the more I felt not at all relaxed."
10
思嘉费劲地仗着那僵疼的脖子把头抬起来.
sī jiā fèi jìn dì zhàng zháo nà jiāng téng de bó zǐ bǎ tóu tái qǐ lái.
Scarlett with an effort lifted her head on her aching neck.
Cultural Notes for 僵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese folklore, the concept of a 'stiff' corpse relates to the myth of the 'jiangshi' (僵尸), a reanimated corpse that moves stiffly, reflecting cultural views on death and the afterlife. This character thus connects deeply with traditional stories about the supernatural.
Word Family of 僵
Words Containing This Character13
僵尸gyonshi殭屍
僵硬jiāngyìngstiff
僵jiāngrigid
僵局jiāngjúimpasse
僵持to be deadlocked
僵化jiānghuàto become rigid
僵直stiff
弄僵to bring to deadlock
李代桃僵to carry the can for sb
僵卧to lie rigid and motionless僵臥
死而不僵to die hard (idiom)
白僵蚕the larva of silkworm with batrytis白殭蠶
尸僵rigor mortis屍僵
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 僵尸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 僵
It can refer to physical rigidity, metaphorical deadlocks, or describe a corpse's condition.
It is more likely to be found in written contexts or specific discussions rather than casual conversations.
Think of the word 'jang', which evokes a stiff sound, similar to the character's meaning.
