Definitions

gāng (noun) ridge; mound

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. The traditional component was removed for simplification.

About

The character "冈" finds its origin in the traditional form "岡", a composite structure where the semantic element "山" denotes its association with mountainous features while the component "网" historically served a phonetic function, together conveying the idea of a ridge or hill. This etymological construction has consistently informed its meaning, which has remained focused on describing elevated landforms without significant alteration. The modern incarnation "冈" represents a graphical simplification that preserves the essential concept through a reduced stroke count, though it no longer explicitly incorporates the mountain radical, yet the character's fundamental sense persists unchanged in denoting such geographical formations.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那个山很高。

Nàge shāngāng hěn gāo.

That hill is very high.

我们爬上了山

Wǒmen pá shàngle shāngāng.

We climbed up the hill.

上有很多树木。

Gāng shàng yǒu hěnduō shùmù.

There are many trees on the ridge.

夕阳照在山上。

Xīyáng zhào zài shāngāng shàng.

The sunset shines on the hill.

这座峦起伏不断。

Zhè zuò gāngluán qǐfú bùduàn.

This range of hills rises and falls continuously.

他们住在下的村庄里。

Tāmen zhù zài gāng xià de cūnzhuāng lǐ.

They live in the village at the foot of the hill.

山是革命圣地。

Jǐnggāng Shān shì gémìng shèngdì.

Jinggang Mountain is a holy site of revolution.

车辆沿着脊缓缓行驶。

Chēliàng yánzhe gāng jǐ huǎnhuǎn xíngshǐ.

The vehicle slowly drives along the ridge.