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餉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
餉xiǎngrations and pay for soldiersx, 14 strokes, radical 飠
xiǎng(xiang3) T3
  1. 1rations and pay for soldiers
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

餉xiǎng(xiang3)

The character 餉 (xiǎng) refers to the rations or pay provided to soldiers, particularly in a historical or military context. It encapsulates the idea of sustenance and compensation for service, emphasizing the importance of provisioning troops for their needs while on duty.

Strokes14Radical飠
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the provision of rations to soldiers was a crucial aspect of military logistics and governance, reflecting the state's responsibility to care for its troops. This character connects to the broader historical practices of maintaining an army.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soldier (represented by the character's radical 𠂇) receiving a bowl of rice (饣) as his rations. The sound 'xiǎng' can be remembered by thinking of a 'song' sung by soldiers as they enjoy their meals, linking the character's meaning to their sustenance.

Meanings of 餉

xiǎng(xiang3)
1rations and pay for soldiers
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 餉

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

Podcast: 餉

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Podcast: 餉

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AI Study Notes for 餉

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in formal or historical contexts, often relating to military discussions. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words or using it in informal settings. Pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 餉 is not included in the HSK levels, students at higher levels should focus on its usage in historical texts or military discussions. Connecting it to other characters related to food (如 饭) or military terms can enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 餉 with other similar characters like 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Make sure to use 餉 specifically in the context of military provisions and not in everyday conversations about food.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 餉

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Etymology of 餉

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

Phonosemantic compound. 饣 represents the meaning and 向 represents the sound. Simplified form of 餉.

Memory Hint

food

Semantic (meaning)飠
+
Phonetic (sound)向
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 餉

Phonosemantic compound. 饣 represents the meaning and 向 represents the sound. Simplified form of 餉.

  1. 1The meaning half飠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half向 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 餉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 餉?

Decomposition of 餉

IDS Structure⿰飠向
餉Full Character
=
飠shi2
left
向Xiang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 餉?

How to say rations and pay for soldiers in Chinese

“rations and pay for soldiers” in Chinese is餉xiǎng

The character 餉 (xiǎng) refers to the rations or pay provided to soldiers, particularly in a historical or military context. It encapsulates the idea of sustenance and compensation for service, emphasizing the importance of provisioning troops for their needs while on duty.

When to use 餉

This term is primarily used in formal or historical contexts, often relating to military discussions. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words or using it in informal settings. Pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 餉 with other similar characters like 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Make sure to use 餉 specifically in the context of military provisions and not in everyday conversations about food.

Write 餉

餉

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

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Word Family of 餉

Words Containing This Character4
军饷(soldier's) pay軍餉
饷xiǎngsoldier's pay餉
粮饷army provisions糧餉
兵饷pay and provisions for soldiers兵餉
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 军饷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 餉

It is pronounced as 'xiǎng' with a falling-rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 餉?

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