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March 24, 2026
扬(揚)yáng(Yang2)
The character 扬 (yáng) primarily means 'to raise' or 'to hoist.' It is commonly used in contexts involving lifting or elevating objects, as well as in a metaphorical sense like 'to praise' or 'to propagate ideas.' Additionally, it is an abbreviation for the city name Yangzhou, known for its cultural significance in China.
Strokes6Radical扌Frequency#7093DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
扬 (yáng) is closely associated with traditional Chinese practices such as winnowing rice, where grains are tossed to separate them from chaff, embodying the essence of elevating or purifying something valuable.
Memory tip
Imagine a flag (扬) being raised high on a pole, fluttering in the wind. The character has the radical for 'hand' (扌) indicating action, combined with a sound component that resembles 'yang,' making it easier to remember that it involves raising or hoisting something.
Meanings of 扬
yáng(Yang2)
1to raise
2to hoist
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 扬
扬Simplified
揚Traditional
6Strokes
扌Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#7093Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 扬
Podcast: 扬
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AI study notes for 扬
Quick Contrast
扬 (yáng) vs 提 (tí) — use 扬 when emphasizing elevation or propagation, while 提 focuses on lifting or carrying.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tones when saying 扬 (yáng), as it is a second tone. Common collocations include 扬声 (to raise one's voice) and 扬名 (to raise one's reputation). Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words, so clarity is essential.
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK levels, 扬 is relevant for learners progressing to more advanced vocabulary. It connects with other words related to raising or lifting, such as 提 (tí), which means 'to lift,' so students should focus on the contexts in which these words overlap.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly pronounce 扬 with the wrong tone, saying 'yang' instead of 'yáng.' Additionally, it's common to confuse it with the character 养 (yǎng), which means 'to raise' in the context of nurturing, so pay attention to the context you are using it in.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扬
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扬 = 扌 + 昜. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 扬
IDS Structure⿰扌昜
扬Full character
=
扌shou3
left
昜yang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 扬?
How to say to raise in Chinese
“to raise” in Chinese is扬yáng
The character 扬 (yáng) primarily means 'to raise' or 'to hoist.' It is commonly used in contexts involving lifting or elevating objects, as well as in a metaphorical sense like 'to praise' or 'to propagate ideas.' Additionally, it is an abbreviation for the city name Yangzhou, known for its cultural significance in China.
When to use 扬
Be mindful of the tones when saying 扬 (yáng), as it is a second tone. Common collocations include 扬声 (to raise one's voice) and 扬名 (to raise one's reputation). Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words, so clarity is essential.
扬 or something close to it
扬 (yáng) vs 提 (tí) — use 扬 when emphasizing elevation or propagation, while 提 focuses on lifting or carrying.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly pronounce 扬 with the wrong tone, saying 'yang' instead of 'yáng.' Additionally, it's common to confuse it with the character 养 (yǎng), which means 'to raise' in the context of nurturing, so pay attention to the context you are using it in.
Write 扬
扬
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Grammar patterns of 扬
扬 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 10 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.
Do you realize, woman, the scandal and publicity that will be involved?
10
她朝客厅方向扬了扬头说：“他在那里面。”
tā cháo kètīng fāngxiàng yáng le yáng tóu shuō：“ tā zài nàlǐ miàn。”
She nodded towards the drawing room. "He's in there."
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Word Family of 扬
Words containing this character20
扬yángto raise揚
表扬biǎoyángto praise表揚
赞扬zànyángto praise讚揚
发扬fāyángto develop發揚
宣扬xuānyángto proclaim宣揚
张扬zhāngyángto make public張揚
上扬shàngyánga price rise上揚
飞扬fēiyángto rise飛揚
扬声器yángshēngqìspeaker揚聲器
弘扬hóngyángto enhance弘揚
扬州yángzhōuYangzhou prefecture level city in Jiangsu揚州
分道扬镳fēndàoyángbiāofig. to part ways分道揚鑣
扬帆yángfānto set sail揚帆
飘扬piāoyángto wave飄揚
沸沸扬扬fèifèiyángyánghubbubing沸沸揚揚
扬言yángyánto threaten揚言
扬起yángqǐto perk up揚起
趾高气扬zhǐgāoqìyánghigh and mighty (idiom); arrogant趾高氣揚
发扬光大fāyángguāngdàto develop and promote發揚光大
扬名yángmíngto become famous揚名
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 扬
What does 表扬 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 扬
Yes, 扬 (Yáng) is a common surname in China. It ranks among the more frequent surnames and is used by many individuals across the country. Surnames in China often have historical and cultural significance.
Phrases that include 扬 (yáng) often relate to the idea of spreading or scattering. For example, '扬帆起航' (yáng fān qǐ háng) means 'to set sail' and symbolizes embarking on a new journey. Another common phrase is '扬名' (yáng míng), which means 'to become famous.'
扬 (yáng) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to the action of tossing or winnowing, scattering something in the wind, or even fluttering. Additionally, it is used as an abbreviation for the city of 扬州 (Yangzhou) and is also a common surname.
You can use 扬 (yáng) in sentences that describe actions like scattering or fluttering. For example, you might say '他把纸扬起来了' (Tā bǎ zhǐ yáng qǐlái le), meaning 'He tossed the paper up.' It can also describe the act of propagating ideas.
Common phrases include 扬帆 (yáng fān), which means 'to set sail,' and 扬声 (yáng shēng), meaning 'to raise one's voice.'
Yes, 扬 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in literature and speeches.
You can remember the pronunciation 'yáng' by associating it with the action of raising something up, like a flag or voice.
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