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曩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
曩nǎngancient times; former; oldg, 21 strokes, radical 日
曩nǎngin former timesunknown, 21 strokes, radical 日
nǎng(nang3) T3
  1. 1ancient times; former; old
  2. 2in former times
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March 24, 2026

曩nǎng(nang3)

The character 曩 (nǎng) refers to ancient times or a former period. It is often used in literary or historical contexts to describe something that occurred long ago, contrasting with present situations or modern times. Its usage is relatively less common in everyday conversation, making it more suited for written texts or formal discussions.

Strokes21Radical日
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, references to 曩 often evoke nostalgia and reflection on the past, which is a common theme in poetry and prose. This character appears in texts that discuss historical events or traditional practices, emphasizing the importance of history in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'nang' (sounds like 'nǎng') echoing from an ancient past. Picture a faded scroll with stories of old battles and ancient heroes, reminding you of times long gone. The character's radical '日' (sun) can symbolize the passage of time, while '亡' (to die) hints at the idea of things that are no longer present.

Meanings of 曩

nǎng(nang3)
1ancient times; former; old
2in former times
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 曩

曩Simplified
21Strokes
日Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 曩

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Podcast: 曩

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AI Study Notes for 曩

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 曩 with similar characters that denote time, such as 以前 (yǐqián). This word is primarily used in formal writing rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other terms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 曩 is not included in the HSK levels, learners can connect it to related terms about time and history, such as 古代 (gǔdài, ancient times) or 以前 (yǐqián, before). Focus on understanding the context in which 曩 is used, particularly in literature and historical discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 曩 in casual contexts where simpler terms like 以前 would suffice. For example, saying 曩我去商店 (nǎng wǒ qù shāngdiàn) instead of 以前我去商店 (yǐqián wǒ qù shāngdiàn) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 曩

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Etymology of 曩

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

sun

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

Origin

曩 = 日 + 襄. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 曩

IDS Structure⿱日襄
曩Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
襄Xiang1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 曩?

How to say ancient times; former; old in Chinese

“ancient times; former; old” in Chinese is曩nǎng

The character 曩 (nǎng) refers to ancient times or a former period. It is often used in literary or historical contexts to describe something that occurred long ago, contrasting with present situations or modern times. Its usage is relatively less common in everyday conversation, making it more suited for written texts or formal discussions.

When to use 曩

Learners often confuse 曩 with similar characters that denote time, such as 以前 (yǐqián). This word is primarily used in formal writing rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other terms.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 曩 in casual contexts where simpler terms like 以前 would suffice. For example, saying 曩我去商店 (nǎng wǒ qù shāngdiàn) instead of 以前我去商店 (yǐqián wǒ qù shāngdiàn) is incorrect.

Write 曩

曩

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

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Word Family of 曩

Words Containing This Character1
曩nǎngin former times

Frequently Asked Questions about 曩

No, 曩 is primarily used in literary contexts and is not commonly spoken in everyday conversation.

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