凝 meaning and stroke order
To coagulate, to congeal; to freeze
How to write 凝, stroke by stroke
16 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 凝
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to congeal
- to concentrate attention
- to stare
How 凝 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Ice.
冫 gives the meaning and 疑 hints at the sound.
Radical: 冫 (ice), shared by 26 characters on this site.
How to remember 凝
The left part 冫 is the ice radical, and 疑 (yí, doubt) gives the sound. Picture a doubtful person frozen in place like ice, unable to move: things that stop flowing and harden are 凝 (níng).
凝 appears mostly in compound words, both for physical things hardening and for attention or eyes becoming fixed. Common examples are 凝固 (nínggù, to solidify) and 凝视 (níngshì, to gaze at). Example: 水泥已经凝固了。(Shuǐní yǐjīng nínggù le.) The cement has already set.
Common mistake: Learners often read 凝 as yí because of the 疑 component, but the correct reading is níng with a second tone. Also watch the left side: it is 冫 with two dots (ice), not 氵 with three dots (water).
Common words with 凝
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
凝 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 凝
How many strokes are in 凝?
凝 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 凝 mean?
凝 (níng) means to coagulate, to congeal; to freeze. A common word with it is 混凝土 (hùnníngtǔ), meaning "concrete (building material)".
How do you pronounce 凝?
凝 is pronounced níng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 凝?
The radical of 凝 is 冫, which carries the idea of "ice". Dictionaries list 凝 under this radical.
Is 凝 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 凝 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 凝视 and 凝望?
Both mean to stare fixedly. 凝视 (níngshì) is a focused, close look at something or someone. 凝望 (níngwàng) suggests gazing into the distance, often with longing or deep thought.
Can 凝 be used for abstract things like a group or emotions?
Yes. 凝聚 (níngjù) is often used for bringing people or strength together, as in 凝聚力 (níngjùlì, cohesion). The idea is scattered things condensing into one solid whole.