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箜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
箜kōngancient Chinese harpx, 14 strokes, radical ⺮
箜kōngancient harpunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮
箜kōngcf 箜篌, Chinese harpunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮
kōng(kong1) T1
  1. 1ancient Chinese harp
  2. 2ancient harp
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March 24, 2026

箜kōng(kong1)

The character 箜 (kōng) refers to an ancient Chinese musical instrument known as the harp, specifically the konghou. It is often mentioned in historical texts and is associated with traditional Chinese music. This term is typically used in formal contexts, especially those relating to culture and music.

Strokes14Radical⺮
Cultural Note

The konghou, associated with the character 箜, has been an integral part of Chinese music for centuries, often played during royal ceremonies and cultural events. Its significance reflects the deep appreciation for music in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful ancient harp (konghou) being played in a serene setting. The character 箜 resembles the shape of the instrument with its strings, while the 'kōng' sound can remind you of the soft, flowing music it produces.

Meanings of 箜

kōng(kong1)
1ancient Chinese harp
2ancient harp
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 箜 means.

About 箜

箜Simplified
14Strokes
⺮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 箜

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Podcast: 箜

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AI Study Notes for 箜

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 箜 with similar-sounding characters or using it in informal contexts where modern instruments are discussed. It is mostly used in literary and cultural discussions, so learners should be mindful of the context in which they use it.

HSK Study Tips

Though 箜 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students at this level should recognize its cultural significance. It's beneficial to connect this character with other musical terms and instruments they learn, enhancing their understanding of traditional Chinese arts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 箜 with similar characters or pronounce it incorrectly. For example, saying 'kǒng' instead of 'kōng' alters the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 箜

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Jason Explains 箜 to You

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Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 箜 through them.

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Etymology of 箜

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

bamboo

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

Origin

箜 = ⺮ + 空. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 箜

IDS Structure⿱⺮空
箜Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
空kong1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 箜?

How to say ancient Chinese harp in Chinese

“ancient Chinese harp” in Chinese is箜kōng

The character 箜 (kōng) refers to an ancient Chinese musical instrument known as the harp, specifically the konghou. It is often mentioned in historical texts and is associated with traditional Chinese music. This term is typically used in formal contexts, especially those relating to culture and music.

When to use 箜

Common mistakes include confusing 箜 with similar-sounding characters or using it in informal contexts where modern instruments are discussed. It is mostly used in literary and cultural discussions, so learners should be mindful of the context in which they use it.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 箜 with similar characters or pronounce it incorrectly. For example, saying 'kǒng' instead of 'kōng' alters the meaning entirely.

Write 箜

箜

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

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Word Family of 箜

Words Containing This Character2
箜篌konghou (Chinese harp)
箜kōngancient harp
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 箜

What does 箜篌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 箜

In modern times, 箜 specifically refers to the ancient harp, and you might not encounter it in everyday conversation.

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