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March 24, 2026
肮(骯)āng(ang1)
The character 肮 (āng) means 'dirty' or 'filthy.' It describes something that is unclean or soiled, often used in both literal and figurative contexts. You'll encounter this term in discussions about cleanliness, hygiene, and moral filth.
Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#52563DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and being '肮' (dirty) is often associated with poor hygiene or moral degradation. This emphasizes the importance of cleanliness in both public and private life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a muddy dog (肮) rolling in dirt. The character resembles a dog (犬) in the bottom part, hinting at something that gets dirty. Remember 'āng' by associating it with 'angry' when you see something filthy.
Meanings of 肮
āng(ang1)
1dirty, filthy
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 肮
肮Simplified
骯Traditional
8Strokes
⺼Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肮
Podcast: 肮
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AI Study Notes for 肮
Quick Contrast
肮 (āng) vs 脏 (zāng) — use 肮 for a more figurative or moral sense of dirtiness, while 脏 is used for physical uncleanliness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a muddy dog (肮) rolling in dirt. The character resembles a dog (犬) in the bottom part, hinting at something that gets dirty. Remember 'āng' by associating it with 'angry' when you see something filthy.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'āng' has a flat tone that can be confused with other words. This character often appears in phrases related to cleanliness, such as '肮脏' (āng zāng, dirty), so knowing these collocations can be helpful.
HSK Study Tips
Although 肮 is not classified under HSK levels, it connects with other vocabulary related to cleanliness and health at the beginner level. Focus on learning its use in everyday phrases to enhance understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and being '肮' (dirty) is often associated with poor hygiene or moral degradation. This emphasizes the importance of cleanliness in both public and private life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肮 with the character 脏 (zāng), which also means 'dirty.' For example, saying '我觉得这个房间肮' is incorrect; it should be '我觉得这个房间脏.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肮
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Grammar Patterns of 肮
肮 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
据《好酒吧指南》所说，酒吧一般环境____脏，气味难闻，而且气氛很不友好。
Pubs are dirty, smelly and unfriendly, according to the Good Pub Guide.
There was dirty brown slush all over the roads and pavements.
6
那里曾是些矮而肮脏的房舍.
nà lǐ zēng shì xiē ǎi ér āng zāng de fáng shě.
There used to be low and dirty houses.
7
富兰克慌乱地从裤兜里拉出一条肮脏的蓝手帕.
fù lán kè huāng luàn dì cóng kù dōu lǐ lā chū yī tiáo āng zāng de lán shǒu pà.
Frank jerked a dirty blue handkerchief from his trousers pocket.
8
娼妓靠赚肮脏钱生活.
chāng jì kào zhuàn āng zāng qián shēng huó.
A prostitute lives off immoral earnings.
9
他发现自己的哥哥住在一套破旧肮脏、蟑螂肆虐的公寓里。
tā fā xiàn zì jǐ de gē gē zhù zài yī tào pò jiù āng zāng、 、 zhāng láng sì nüè de gōng yù。
He found his brother in a seedy, roach-infested apartment.
Cultural Notes for 肮
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and being '肮' (dirty) is often associated with poor hygiene or moral degradation. This emphasizes the importance of cleanliness in both public and private life.
Word Family of 肮
Words Containing This Character2
肮脏dirty骯髒
肮āngdirty骯
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 肮脏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肮
You can say '这个地方肮脏' (This place is dirty) to describe an unclean area.
It is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing cleanliness or lack thereof.
