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March 24, 2026
髒zàng(zang4)
The character 髒 (zàng) refers primarily to internal organs or viscera in a medical or anatomical context. Additionally, it carries a connotation of being dirty or filthy, often used to describe uncleanliness in both physical and metaphorical senses. It can be used in phrases discussing hygiene or health.
Strokes23Radical骨Frequency#40354DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of organs (臓) is crucial, with specific organs linked to emotions and physical health. The dual meaning of 髒 highlights the importance of hygiene in Chinese culture, where cleanliness is often associated with health and well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dirty organ, like a heart covered in grime. The character 髒 has the radical for hair (髟) at the top, suggesting a mess or dirtiness, while the bottom part suggests the internal structure of organs. Picture a 'zangy' organ that makes you think of both filth and anatomy.
Meanings of 髒
zàng(zang4)
1organs, viscera; dirty, filthy
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 髒
髒Simplified
23Strokes
骨Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 髒
Podcast: 髒
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AI Study Notes for 髒
Quick Contrast
脏 (zāng) refers specifically to something that is dirty or unclean, while 髒 (zàng) emphasizes internal organs or viscera, often in a medical context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dirty organ, like a heart covered in grime. The character 髒 has the radical for hair (髟) at the top, suggesting a mess or dirtiness, while the bottom part suggests the internal structure of organs. Picture a 'zangy' organ that makes you think of both filth and anatomy.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 髒 with 脏 (zāng), which is a more commonly used form. 髒 is less frequently encountered in casual conversation and may sound overly formal or literary. Be cautious with tones; 髒 (zàng) is pronounced with a falling tone, while 脏 (zāng) has a high tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 髒 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to words related to health and cleanliness, such as 干净 (gānjìng - clean) and 卫生 (wèishēng - hygiene). Students should focus on recognizing the character in medical contexts and its associations with cleanliness.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of organs (臓) is crucial, with specific organs linked to emotions and physical health. The dual meaning of 髒 highlights the importance of hygiene in Chinese culture, where cleanliness is often associated with health and well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 髒 as zāng instead of zàng. Another mistake is using 髒 in casual conversation without understanding its formal connotation. For example, saying '这个房间很髒' (zhège fángjiān hěn zàng - This room is very dirty) in informal settings can sound awkward.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 髒
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Cultural Notes for 髒
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of organs (臓) is crucial, with specific organs linked to emotions and physical health. The dual meaning of 髒 highlights the importance of hygiene in Chinese culture, where cleanliness is often associated with health and well-being.
Word Family of 髒
Words Containing This Character20
心脏xīnzàngheart心臟
脏zāngviscera臟
心脏病xīnzàngbìngheart disease心臟病
肝脏gānzàngliver肝臟
肮脏dirty骯髒
肾脏kidney腎臟
内脏viscera內臟
脏话profanity髒話
脏器internal organs臟器
脾脏spleen脾臟
脏腑inner organs臟腑
五脏five viscera of TCM, namely: heart 心[xīn], liver 肝[gān], spleen 脾[pí], lungs 肺[fèi] and kidneys 腎|肾[shèn]五臟
弄脏to make dirty弄髒
五脏六腑five viscera and six bowels (TCM)五臟六腑
脏乱in a mess髒亂
脏字obscenity髒字
脏兮兮dirty髒兮兮
脏乱差squalor髒亂差
脏水sewage髒水
脏病(coll.) venereal disease髒病
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 心脏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 髒
髒 (zàng) is less commonly used and may appear in formal or literary contexts, while 脏 (zāng) is the standard term for 'dirty' in everyday language.
髒 typically describes objects or conditions but can be used metaphorically for places, especially in literary contexts.
Yes, 髒 often relates to internal organs and can be found in medical terminology.
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