Chinese Character: 炕
1. Character Basics
Radical: 火 (fire radical)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: kàng
3. Meaning
English meaning: heated brick bed (traditional in northern China)
4. Common Words
- 火炕 (huǒ kàng) - heated brick bed
- 炕头 (kàng tóu) - warmest part of the kang
- 上炕 (shàng kàng) - get on the kang
- 睡炕 (shuì kàng) - sleep on the kang
- 炕桌 (kàng zhuō) - small table for use on the kang
5. Grammar & Usage
Usage notes:
- 主要用作名词，指中国北方传统的取暖睡卧设施
- 常与其他字组成描述炕的不同部分或相关活动的词汇
- 是北方农村家庭生活的重要组成部分
6. Cultural Background
The character "炕" consists of "火" (fire) and "亢" (high). It refers to a traditional heated brick bed found in northern China, where a fire is burned underneath to provide warmth during cold winters. The kang has been an essential part of northern Chinese rural life for centuries, serving as a place to sleep, eat, and socialize.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 冬天，北方人喜欢在炕上取暖。
Pinyin: Dōngtiān, běifāng rén xǐhuan zài kàng shàng qǔnuǎn.
English: In winter, northern Chinese people like to keep warm on the kang.
8. Memory Tips
Mnemonic: The character "炕" has "火" (fire) on the left. Imagine a warm bed heated by fire underneath, which is the traditional kang in northern China.