Chinese Character: 郎
1. Character Basics
Radical: 阝 (right ear radical)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: láng (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Gentleman; man; husband; official title in ancient China
4. Common Words
- 郎中 (lángzhōng) - doctor; physician; traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
- 新郎 (xīnláng) - bridegroom; newlywed husband
- 情郎 (qíngláng) - sweetheart; lover; boyfriend
- 女郎 (nǚláng) - young woman; girl; lady
- 郎才女貌 (lángcáinǚmào) - talented man and beautiful woman
- 牛郎 (niúláng) - cowherd; (in legend) the Cowherd Star
- 货郎 (huòláng) - itinerant peddler; traveling salesman
- 郎君 (lángjūn) - husband; young man; term of endearment
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "郎" is primarily used as a noun, often referring to men, gentlemen, or specific male roles in society. It can also be part of titles or honorifics.
Grammar Patterns:
- 郎+中: 郎中 (doctor)
- 新+郎: 新郎 (bridegroom)
- 情+郎: 情郎 (sweetheart)
- 女+郎: 女郎 (young woman)
- 郎+才+女+貌: 郎才女貌 (talented man and beautiful woman)
- 牛+郎: 牛郎 (cowherd)
- 货+郎: 货郎 (itinerant peddler)
- 郎+君: 郎君 (husband)
6. Cultural Background
The character "郎" has rich cultural connotations in Chinese society. Originally, it referred to young men of good birth or status, but over time its meaning has expanded.
In traditional Chinese culture, "郎" was often used as a term of respect for young men or as part of official titles in the imperial bureaucracy. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, "侍郎" (shìláng) was an important government position.
One of the most famous cultural references is the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎织女, Niúláng Zhīnǚ), a classic Chinese love story that has been passed down for generations. In this story, "牛郎" (Cowherd) is the male protagonist.
The character's structure, with "良" (good) on the left and "阝" (mound, hill) on the right, suggests its original meaning might have been related to noble or good men from a particular place or clan.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 那个青年才俊被大家称为"郎"。
Pinyin: Nàge qīngnián cáijùn bèi dàjiā chēng wéi "láng".
English: That talented young man is called "Lang" by everyone.
8. Memory Tips
The character "郎" (láng) consists of two parts:
- The component "良" on the left, which means "good" or "fine"
- The radical "阝" (right ear radical) on the right, which is related to places or locations
To remember the character, think of it as "a good (良) person from a certain place (阝)".
Associate the character with common words like "新郎" (xīnláng, bridegroom) and the famous legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl to help with memorization.
Practice writing the character, paying attention to the correct stroke order, to reinforce your memory of its structure and笔画数.
Note that the right ear radical "阝" is slightly different from the left ear radical, which has a different meaning and origin.