Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
脓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脓nóngpusn, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #16167, Very Hard
nóng(nong2) T2
  1. 1pus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

脓(膿)nóng(nong2)

The character 脓 (nóng) refers to pus, which is a thick fluid produced in infected tissue. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the discharge from wounds or infections, and carries a connotation of illness or bodily harm.

Strokes10Radical⺼Frequency#16167DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the understanding of pus and infections is linked to concepts of balance and health, often emphasizing natural remedies and holistic treatments.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'naughty' (sounds like 'nóng') child who has a 'nasty' (similar sounding) infection that produces pus. The character 脓 contains the radical '肉' (meat), indicating it relates to the body, while '农' can remind you of 'naughty' as the child plays in the dirt, getting hurt and producing pus.

Meanings of 脓

nóng(nong2)
1pus
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 脓 means.

About 脓

脓Simplified
膿Traditional
10Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脓

JasonAmy

Podcast: 脓

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 脓

Quick Contrast

脓 (nóng) vs 膿 (nǎng) — use 脓 for the common term in medical contexts, while 膿 is a more formal or literary variant.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 脓, as it is a medical term and may sound harsh in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 脓液 (nóng yè, pus fluid) and 脓肿 (nóng zhǒng, abscess). Ensure proper pronunciation with the second tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 脓 is not in the HSK curriculum, it connects to health-related vocabulary that may appear in higher levels. Focus on understanding medical terms and their implications, as they often involve more complex structures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脓 (nóng) with other similar-sounding words. For example, using 脓 (nóng) instead of 农 (nóng, farming) can lead to misunderstandings in conversations about agriculture.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脓

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 脓 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 脓 to You

Let me explain 脓 for you

Make it yours

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

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 脓?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 脓 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 脓

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 农 represents the sound. Simplified form of 膿.

Memory Hint

flesh

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

Origin

脓 = ⺼ + 农. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 脓

IDS Structure⿰⺼农
脓Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
农Nong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 脓?

How to say pus in Chinese

“pus” in Chinese is脓nóng

The character 脓 (nóng) refers to pus, which is a thick fluid produced in infected tissue. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the discharge from wounds or infections, and carries a connotation of illness or bodily harm.

When to use 脓

Be cautious when using 脓, as it is a medical term and may sound harsh in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 脓液 (nóng yè, pus fluid) and 脓肿 (nóng zhǒng, abscess). Ensure proper pronunciation with the second tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.

脓 or something close to it

脓 (nóng) vs 膿 (nǎng) — use 脓 for the common term in medical contexts, while 膿 is a more formal or literary variant.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脓 (nóng) with other similar-sounding words. For example, using 脓 (nóng) instead of 农 (nóng, farming) can lead to misunderstandings in conversations about agriculture.

Write 脓

脓

Practice writing 脓 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 脓

脓 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我牙龈____肿,所以他就把那颗牙拔掉了。

I got an abscess so he took the tooth out.

Example Sentences for 脓 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我牙龈脓肿,所以他就把那颗牙拔掉了。

wǒ yá yín nóng zhǒng, , suǒ yǐ tā jiù bǎ nà kē yá bá diào。

I got an abscess so he took the tooth out.
2
在恶劣的条件下,皮肤可能会开裂并流脓。

zài è liè de tiáo jiàn xià, , pí fū kě néng huì kāi liè bìng liú。

In severe cases, the skin can crack and weep.
3
腿烂了.化脓了. 咋办. 疼得要命!

tuǐ làn le. . huà nóng. le .. zǎ bàn . téng!

The leg rotted. Fester. Do how. Ache confoundedly!

Ask Jason

Have a question about 脓?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 脓

Words Containing This Character5
脓nóngpus膿
脓包pustule膿包
脓肿abscess膿腫
化脓to fester化膿
化脓性septic化膿性
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 脓

What does 脓包 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脓

The correct pronunciation is 'nóng', with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 脓?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab