Learn a Chinese Character - 膏

1. Character Basics

Radical: 月 (yuè, moon/meat)

Stroke Count: 14

Structure: Left-right structure. The left part is "月" (moon/meat), which often relates to flesh or organic substances, and the right part is "高" (high), indicating pronunciation or quality.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gāo

Tone: First tone (high level)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: A thick, viscous substance such as ointment, paste, fat, or oil.

Main Definitions:

• Fatty or oily substance, especially when used for medicinal or cosmetic purposes
• Paste-like substance
• Rich, nourishing substance
• To apply ointment or grease

4. Common Words

• 药膏 (yào gāo) - Medicinal ointment

  这种药膏可以治疗皮肤瘙痒。(This ointment can treat skin itching.)

• 牙膏 (yá gāo) - Toothpaste

  我每天早上都用牙膏刷牙。(I brush my teeth with toothpaste every morning.)

• 石膏 (shí gāo) - Plaster (for broken bones)

  医生给我的骨折手臂上了石膏。(The doctor put a plaster cast on my broken arm.)

• 脂膏 (zhī gāo) - Fat; grease

  这种食物含有太多脂膏，对健康不好。(This food contains too much fat, which is bad for health.)

• 软膏 (ruǎn gāo) - Ointment; salve

  请在伤口上涂抹这种软膏。(Please apply this ointment to the wound.)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun, sometimes as a verb.

Usage Patterns:

• As a noun: Usually combined with other characters to form compound nouns referring to specific types of ointments or pastes.
• As a verb: To apply ointment or grease (e.g., "膏油" means to apply oil).
• In idiomatic expressions: Often appears in phrases related to nourishment, healing, or rich substances.

Common Collocations:

• 膏状 (gāo zhuàng) - Paste-like; ointment-like
• 膏方 (gāo fāng) - Traditional Chinese medicine paste prescription
• 膏肓 (gāo huāng) - Critical condition (literally: vital organs)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "膏" has rich connotations:

• Traditional Medicine: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), "膏方" (gāo fāng) refers to special medicinal pastes that are carefully prepared and used to nourish the body, especially during winter.
• Nourishment Symbolism: The character is often associated with rich, nourishing substances, representing abundance and care.
• Historical Usage: Historically, various ointments and pastes made from natural ingredients were used for healing, protection, and beauty care.
• Idiomatic Expressions: The idiom "病入膏肓" (bìng rù gāo huāng) literally means "the illness has entered the vital organs" and is used to describe a critical, incurable condition.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Here are some ways to remember the character "膏":

• Component Breakdown: The character consists of "月" (moon/meat) on the left and "高" (high) on the right. Remember that "月" often relates to organic substances, and "高" suggests something of quality or thickness.
• Visual Association: Imagine a tall (高) jar filled with thick ointment (膏) made from organic ingredients (月).
• Word Family: Associate with common words like "药膏" (yào gāo - ointment), "牙膏" (yá gāo - toothpaste), and "石膏" (shí gāo - plaster) to reinforce the meaning.
• Mnemonic Device: "膏是月加高，粘性物质它来表" (Gāo shì yuè jiā gāo, niánxìng wùzhì tā lái biǎo) - "膏 is moon plus high, it represents viscous substances."