Chinese Character: 将
1. Character Basics
Radical: 寸/cùn radical (寸字旁)
Stroke Count: 9
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiāng (first tone) or jiàng (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
will, shall, be going to; general, commander
4. Common Words
- 将军 (jiāng jūn) - general
- 将来 (jiāng lái) - future
- 即将 (jí jiāng) - soon, be about to
- 将领 (jiàng lǐng) - high-ranking military officer
- 将会 (jiāng huì) - will, shall
- 将才 (jiàng cái) - military talent
5. Grammar & Usage
将 is a versatile character with multiple uses. When pronounced as jiāng (first tone), it is often used as an auxiliary verb to indicate the future tense, similar to "will" or "shall" in English. For example, 我将去中国 (Wǒ jiāng qù Zhōngguó) means "I will go to China".
When pronounced as jiàng (fourth tone), 将 functions as a noun meaning "general" or "commander". For example, 他是一位将军 (Tā shì yī wèi jiāng jūn) means "He is a general".
将 can also be used as a verb meaning "to lead" or "to command". For example, 他将军队作战 (Tā jiāng jūn duì zuò zhàn) means "He leads the army in battle".
The character 将 is also commonly used in set phrases and idioms, such as 将计就计 (jiāng jì jiù jì), which means "to turn someone's trick against them" or "to beat them at their own game".
6. Cultural Background
The character 将 has deep cultural significance in Chinese history, particularly in relation to military affairs. In ancient China, the title of 将军 (jiāng jūn) was a high-ranking military position, and many famous generals throughout Chinese history have been celebrated in literature and art.
The concept of 将 (general) is also important in Chinese philosophy and strategy, particularly in the context of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War", where the qualities of a good general are extensively discussed.
In Chinese chess (象棋/xiàng qí), one of the most important pieces is the 将 (king/general), which represents the commander of an army. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's 将.
The character 将 is also used in various idioms and proverbs that reflect Chinese cultural values, such as 将军百战死，壮士十年归 (Jiāng jūn bǎi zhàn sǐ, zhuàng shì shí nián guī), which means "Generals die in a hundred battles, brave soldiers return after ten years" and reflects the Chinese respect for military service and sacrifice.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 我将来想成为一名科学家。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Wǒ jiāng lái xiǎng chéng wéi yī míng kē xué jiā.
Translation (fān yì): I want to become a scientist in the future.
8. Memory Tips
The character 将 consists of two parts: 爫 (zhǎo, hand) on the top and 寸 (cùn, inch) at the bottom. Imagine a general (将) using his hand (爫) to measure with an inch (寸) ruler to plan a battle strategy.
Another way to remember: When pronounced as jiāng, think of the phrase 将来 (jiāng lái) meaning "future" and associate it with making plans for what you will do in the future.
For the jiàng pronunciation, visualize a general (将军) wearing a traditional Chinese military uniform, leading his troops into battle.