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March 24, 2026
状(狀)zhuàng(zhuang4)
The character 状 (zhuàng) primarily means 'state' or 'condition,' often describing the form or appearance of something. It is commonly used in contexts like physical health (身体状况), legal suits (诉状), or to indicate the shape of an object. The character can imply strength or greatness when used descriptively.
Strokes7Radical犬Frequency#4309DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, understanding one's 状况 (state or condition) is vital, especially regarding health and relationships. The concept of maintaining good 状态 is often emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong warrior (状) standing tall in his fine armor. The character's structure symbolizes strength and form, as if he is showcasing his impressive condition and appearance. The pronunciation 'zhuàng' sounds like 'strong,' reinforcing the idea of robustness.
Meanings of 状
zhuàng(zhuang4)
1accusation
2suit
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 状
状Simplified
狀Traditional
7Strokes
犬Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#4309Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 状
Podcast: 状
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AI Study Notes for 状
Quick Contrast
状 (zhuàng) vs 形 (xíng) — use 状 for emphasis on condition or state, while 形 focuses more on shape or form.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong warrior (状) standing tall in his fine armor. The character's structure symbolizes strength and form, as if he is showcasing his impressive condition and appearance. The pronunciation 'zhuàng' sounds like 'strong,' reinforcing the idea of robustness.
Usage Notes
Learn to differentiate between the various meanings and contexts of 状. Common collocations include 状态 (state/condition) and 诉状 (lawsuit). Be cautious of tone; the character is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), which can change meanings if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 状 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects to HSK-related vocabulary concerning health (健康状况) and legal terminology. Students should focus on recognizing it in phrases and practicing its usage in context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, understanding one's 状况 (state or condition) is vital, especially regarding health and relationships. The concept of maintaining good 状态 is often emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 状 with similar-sounding characters like 状 and 庄 (zhuāng). For instance, saying '我的庄况很不错' instead of '我的状况很不错' is incorrect; the correct word here is 状, which means condition.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 状
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Grammar Patterns of 状
状 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). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Although the car is basically sound, I was worried about certain areas.
7
白内障是一种影响晶状体透明性的疾病。
bái nèi zhàng shì yī zhǒng yǐng xiǎng jīng zhuàng tǐ tòu míng xìng de jí bìng。
Cataracts is a condition that affects the transparency of the lenses.
8
经济萧条只不过加速了原本就在改变行业状况的变化。
jīng jì xiāo tiáo zhī bù guò jiā sù le yuán běn jiù zài gǎi biàn háng yè zhuàng kuàng de biàn huà。
Recession has simply accelerated changes that have been reshaping the industry anyway.
9
他已经在为那个重要的日子调整状态了。
tā yǐ jīng zài wéi nà gè zhòng yào de rì zǐ tiáo zhěng zhuàng tài le。
He is already getting in trim for the big day.
10
为了在休赛期间保持状态，我常打网球或踢足球。
wéi le zài xiū sài qī jiān bǎo chí zhuàng tài， ， wǒ cháng dǎ wǎng qiú huò tī zú。
To stay fit off season, I play tennis or football.
Cultural Notes for 状
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, understanding one's 状况 (state or condition) is vital, especially regarding health and relationships. The concept of maintaining good 状态 is often emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy.
Word Family of 状
Words Containing This Character20
状态zhuàngtàistate狀態
状况zhuàngkuàngcondition狀況
症状zhèngzhuàngsymptom (of an illness)症狀
状zhuàngsuit狀
现状xiànzhuàngcurrent situation現狀
形状xíngzhuàngform形狀
甲状腺thyroid gland甲狀腺
状元zhuàngyuanleading light狀元
冠状动脉coronary artery冠狀動脈
原状previous condition原狀
性状character性狀
告状gàozhuàngto tell on sb告狀
诉状plea訴狀
精神状态mental state精神狀態
晶状体lens晶狀體
状告to sue狀告
奖状prize certificate獎狀
罪状the nature of the offense罪狀
块状lump塊狀
紧急状态state of emergency緊急狀態
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 状态 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 状
Common phrases including 状 (zhuàng) are '状况' (zhuàngkuàng) meaning 'condition' or 'situation,' and '控诉状' (kòngsù zhuàng) meaning 'accusation statement.' These phrases illustrate its application in both everyday conversation and legal contexts.
状 (zhuàng) generally refers to 'state' or 'condition,' while 状态 (zhuàngtài) specifically means 'status' or 'state of affairs.' While they are related, 状态 is often used in more formal or technical contexts, whereas 状 can be used in a broader range of situations.
状 (zhuàng) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'accusation,' 'suit,' 'state,' and 'condition.' It can also describe something that is strong or great, depending on the context. This versatility makes it useful in various expressions and phrases.
You can use 状 (zhuàng) to describe a state or condition, such as in the phrase '身体状况' (shēntǐ zhuàngkuàng) which means 'physical condition.' It can also refer to legal terms like '诉状' (sù zhuàng), meaning 'lawsuit.' Understanding its context will help you use it appropriately.
You can use 状 in phrases like '身体状况很好' (The physical condition is very good) or '案件的诉状已经提交' (The lawsuit document has been submitted).
Yes, 状 is often used in formal legal and medical contexts, but can also be used informally when discussing personal states.
Synonyms include 状态 (state) and 形状 (shape), each with slightly different nuances.
