Chinese Character: 浆
1. Character Basics
Radical: 水/shuǐ radical (水字旁)
Stroke Count: 10
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiāng (first tone)
3. Meaning
syrup, thick liquid, paste, starch paste
4. Common Words
- 豆浆 (dòu jiāng) - soybean milk
- 纸浆 (zhǐ jiāng) - paper pulp
- 岩浆 (yán jiāng) - magma
- 糖浆 (táng jiāng) - syrup
- 浆糊 (jiāng hú) - paste
- 泥浆 (ní jiāng) - mud, slurry
5. Grammar & Usage
浆 is primarily used as a noun to refer to various thick liquids or pastes. It is commonly used in compound words to describe specific types of liquids.
The character 浆 is often combined with other characters to form words related to specific types of thick liquids. For example, 豆浆 (dòu jiāng) means "soybean milk," and 糖浆 (táng jiāng) means "syrup."
In some contexts, 浆 can also be used as a verb meaning "to starch" or "to apply paste." For example, 浆衣服 (jiāng yī fu) means "to starch clothes."
The character 浆 is not typically used as an independent word in modern Chinese; it is most commonly found in compound words that specify the type of thick liquid being referred to.
6. Cultural Background
豆浆 (dòu jiāng), or soybean milk, is a traditional Chinese beverage with a history of thousands of years. It is made by grinding soybeans with water and is a common breakfast item in China and other East Asian countries. Soybean milk is often served with youtiao (fried dough sticks) and is considered a nutritious and healthy drink.
In ancient China, 浆 was also used to refer to various fermented fruit or vegetable juices. These were often consumed as refreshing drinks during the hot summer months and were believed to have medicinal properties.
The use of 浆 in textiles can be traced back to ancient times, where starch pastes were used to stiffen fabrics, particularly for formal clothing. This practice is still common in some traditional Chinese clothing making today.
The character 浆 combines the water radical (水) with the phonetic component (将), which helps to indicate its pronunciation. This combination reflects the character's association with liquid substances and has remained relatively unchanged in form for thousands of years.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 每天早上我都喝一杯豆浆。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Měi tiān zǎo shang wǒ dōu hē yī bēi dòu jiāng.
Translation (fān yì): I drink a cup of soybean milk every morning.
8. Memory Tips
The character 浆 consists of 水 (shuǐ, water) on the left and 将 (jiāng) on the right. Since 浆 refers to various liquids and pastes, the water radical on the left makes perfect sense. The right side 将 serves as a phonetic component, helping to indicate the pronunciation.
To remember the character, think of 豆浆 (dòu jiāng), a common Chinese drink that many people around the world are familiar with. The water radical reminds you that it's a liquid, while the right side helps with the pronunciation.
You can also create a simple mnemonic: "The general (将) drinks a liquid (水) called 浆 (jiāng)." This connects the different parts of the character and helps reinforce its meaning and pronunciation.