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糖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
tángsugarHSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
tángsweetsHSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
tángcandyHSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
táng>颗[kē],塊HSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
táng>块[kuài]HSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
tángold variant of 糖[táng]HSK 3, zg, 16 strokes, radical 米, rank #1742, Medium
táng(tang2) T2
  1. 1sugar
  2. 2sweets
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
táng(tang2)

糖 (táng) refers to sugar, sweets, or candy in Mandarin. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, particularly desserts and beverages. This character embodies the idea of sweetness and is often associated with indulgence and treats.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#1742DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sugar is not just for sweetness but also plays a role in traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, where sweet rice balls (汤圆, tāngyuán) symbolize reunion and harmony.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall sugar cane swaying in the breeze, resembling the character 糖. The left side, 米 (mǐ), looks like grains of rice, while the right side, 糖, visually reminds you of a sweet treat. Think of a 'tangy' flavor that makes you smile, connecting the pronunciation 'táng' with sweetness.

Meanings of 糖

táng(tang2)
1sugar
2sweets
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 糖

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1742Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 糖

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AI Study Notes for 糖

Quick Contrast

糖 (táng) vs 甜 (tián) — use 糖 when referring specifically to sugar or candy, while 甜 describes the taste of sweetness.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tall sugar cane swaying in the breeze, resembling the character 糖. The left side, 米 (mǐ), looks like grains of rice, while the right side, 糖, visually reminds you of a sweet treat. Think of a 'tangy' flavor that makes you smile, connecting the pronunciation 'táng' with sweetness.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 糖, as it is pronounced with a rising tone (táng). A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 蕉 (jiāo), which means banana. It is often used in phrases like '糖果' (tángguǒ) for candy.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 糖 connects to other food-related vocabulary, which is crucial for daily conversations about meals and preferences. Students should practice using it in sentences about their favorite desserts or sweet treats.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sugar is not just for sweetness but also plays a role in traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, where sweet rice balls (汤圆, tāngyuán) symbolize reunion and harmony.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 糖 with 盐 (yán), which means salt, leading to the incorrect phrase '我喜欢吃盐' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī yán) instead of '我喜欢吃糖' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī táng). Always remember that 糖 is sweet, while 盐 is salty.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 糖

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Etymology of 糖

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

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 唐 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

rice

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 糖?

Decomposition of 糖

IDS Structure⿰米唐
Full Character
=
Mi3
left
Tang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 糖?

Write 糖

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 糖

糖 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

医生说我不能吃太多____。

The doctor said I can't eat too much sugar.

Common Confusions with 糖

vs
jiàng

Similar in shape and sound but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "sugar"?

or

Example Sentences for 糖 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们填了一肚子的冰激凌、巧克力和棒棒糖。

tā mén tián le yī dù zǐ de bīng jī líng、 、 qiǎo kè lì hé bàng bàng。

They stuffed themselves with ice creams, chocolate and lollies.
2
有高血压的人尤其易患糖尿病。

yǒu gāo xiě yā de rén yóu qí yì huàn táng niào bìng。

People with high blood pressure are especially vulnerable to diabetes.
3
糖能快速缓解饥饿感,但不能提供持久的营养。

táng néng kuài sù huǎn jiě jī è gǎn, , dàn bù néng tí gōng chí jiǔ de yíng。

Sugar gives quick relief to hunger but provides no lasting nourishment.
4
我把泡泡糖弄到了娜娜的车座上。

wǒ bǎ pào pào táng nòng dào le nà nà de chē zuò shàng。

I got bubblegum on the seat of Nanna's car.
5
我的医生要我去做个检查,看是否患有糖尿病。

wǒ de yī shēng yào wǒ qù zuò gè jiǎn chá, , kàn shì fǒu huàn yǒu táng niào。

My doctor wants me to be tested for diabetes.
6
他要在咖啡里放3茶匙的糖。

tā yào zài kā fēi lǐ fàng3 3 chá chí de。

He wants three teaspoons of sugar in his coffee.
7
中草药香烟、口香糖之类的我统统都试过了。

zhōng cǎo yào xiāng yān、 、 kǒu xiāng táng zhī lèi de wǒ tǒng tǒng dū shì guò。

I've tried everything from herbal cigarettes to chewing gum.
8
情绪低落的时候,她们就疯狂地猛吃巧克力和糖果。

qíng xù dī luò de shí hòu, , tā mén jiù fēng kuáng dì měng chī qiǎo kè lì hé táng。

When depressed, they dramatically overindulge in chocolate and sweets.
9
她在草莓上撒了点糖。

tā zài cǎo méi shàng sā le diǎn táng。

She sprinkled sugar over the strawberries.
10
我离不开糖、甜品和巧克力。

wǒ lí bù kāi táng、 、 tián pǐn hé qiǎo kè。

I need my fix of sugar, sweets, and chocolate.

Cultural Notes for 糖

💡Did you know?

In China, sweets and candy play a significant role in celebrations, especially during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, where mooncakes (with sweet fillings) are shared among families and friends.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, sugar is not just for sweetness but also plays a role in traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, where sweet rice balls (汤圆, tāngyuán) symbolize reunion and harmony.

Word Family of 糖

Words Containing This Character20
tángsugar
糖果tángguǒcandy
糖尿病tángniàobìngdiabetes
口香糖kǒuxiāngtángchewing gum
血糖blood sugar
白糖(refined) white sugar
葡萄糖glucose C6H12O6
糖浆syrup糖漿
棒棒糖lollipop
软糖soft candy (gummi candy, gumdrop, jellybean etc)軟糖
蜜糖honey
冰糖crystal sugar
红糖molasses紅糖
泡泡糖bubble gum
乳糖lactose
多糖polysaccharide (complex carbohydrate such as starch 澱粉|淀粉 and cellulose 纖維素|纤维素)
糖水syrup
蔗糖cane sugar
焦糖caramel
低血糖hypoglycemia (medicine)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 糖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 糖

Yes, 糖 (táng) is sometimes referenced in traditional Chinese medicine, where sweet flavors are associated with certain health benefits. However, it is important to use it in moderation, as excessive sugar consumption is not recommended for overall health.