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縱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
縱zòngto indulge in, to give free reign tox, 17 strokes, radical 糹
zòng(zong4)zong T4
  1. 1to indulge in, to give free reign to
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March 24, 2026

縱zòng(zong4)

The character 縱 (zòng) means to indulge in or to give free rein to something. It is often used in contexts where one allows something to happen without restraint, such as indulging in a hobby or letting emotions run free. This term can carry a nuance of carelessness or lack of control.

Strokes17Radical糹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of indulgence can sometimes be viewed negatively, as it may imply a lack of self-discipline. This contrasts with the Confucian emphasis on moderation and self-control, making the use of 縱 in literature a powerful commentary on human nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a dog named 'Zong' that is finally let off its leash at a park, running freely without any restrictions. The character 縱 visually resembles a long line (the leash) that is being released, symbolizing the act of letting go and indulging in freedom.

Meanings of 縱

zòng(zong4)
1to indulge in, to give free reign to
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 縱 means.

About 縱

縱Simplified
17Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 縱

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Podcast: 縱

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AI Study Notes for 縱

Quick Contrast

纵 (zòng) vs 放 (fàng): use 纵 when emphasizing indulgence or lack of restraint, while 放 is more neutral, focusing on the act of letting go or releasing.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 縱 with similar-sounding characters, as it can lead to misunderstandings. This word is more commonly used in written Chinese and may come off as formal in casual conversation; in such cases, consider using simpler phrases. Common collocations include 縱容 (to condone) and 縱情 (to indulge).

HSK Study Tips

While 縱 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it may appear in advanced readings. It connects to concepts of freedom and indulgence, which are themes found in higher-level HSK texts. Focus on recognizing its usage in literary and formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 縱 with the similar-sounding 容 (róng), which means to contain or allow. For example, saying '我縱这个行为' (Wǒ zòng zhège xíngwéi) instead of '我容这个行为' (Wǒ róng zhège xíngwéi) can change the meaning from allowing to indulging, which may not convey the intended message.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 縱

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Etymology of 縱

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 从 represents the sound. Simplified form of 縱.

Memory Hint

thread

Semantic (meaning)糹
+
Phonetic (sound)從
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

縱 = 糹 + 從. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 縱

IDS Structure⿰糹從
縱Full Character
=
糹si1
left
從cong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 縱?

How to say to indulge in, to give free reign to in Chinese

“to indulge in, to give free reign to” in Chinese is縱zòng

The character 縱 (zòng) means to indulge in or to give free rein to something. It is often used in contexts where one allows something to happen without restraint, such as indulging in a hobby or letting emotions run free. This term can carry a nuance of carelessness or lack of control.

When to use 縱

Be careful not to confuse 縱 with similar-sounding characters, as it can lead to misunderstandings. This word is more commonly used in written Chinese and may come off as formal in casual conversation; in such cases, consider using simpler phrases. Common collocations include 縱容 (to condone) and 縱情 (to indulge).

縱 or something close to it

纵 (zòng) vs 放 (fàng): use 纵 when emphasizing indulgence or lack of restraint, while 放 is more neutral, focusing on the act of letting go or releasing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 縱 with the similar-sounding 容 (róng), which means to contain or allow. For example, saying '我縱这个行为' (Wǒ zòng zhège xíngwéi) instead of '我容这个行为' (Wǒ róng zhège xíngwéi) can change the meaning from allowing to indulging, which may not convey the intended message.

Write 縱

縱

Practice writing 縱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 縱

Words Containing This Character20
操纵cāozòngto operate操縱
纵zòngvertical縱
纵火to set on fire縱火
放纵fàngzòngto indulge放縱
纵容zòngróngto indulge縱容
纵横zònghéngcriss-crossed縱橫
纵向longitudinal縱向
纵火犯arsonist縱火犯
纵然zòngráneven if縱然
纵观zòngguānan overall survey縱觀
纵深zòngshēnspan (of time)縱深
纵使even if縱使
纵身to leap縱身
纵队column縱隊
纵情to your heart's content縱情
欲擒故纵In order to capture, one must let loose.欲擒故縱
稍纵即逝transient稍縱即逝
操纵杆joystick操縱桿
纵横交错zònghéngjiāocuòcriss-crossed (idiom)縱橫交錯
纵欲to indulge in debauchery縱慾
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 縱

What does 操纵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 縱

It is more commonly found in written Chinese or formal contexts, rather than in casual spoken language.

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