将 meaning and stroke order
Will; shall; to use
How to write 将, stroke by stroke
9 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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- 9
Meaning of 将
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- will
- shall
- to use
- to take
- to checkmate
- just a short while ago
- (bound form) a general
- (literary) to command; to lead
- (Chinese chess) general (on the black side, equivalent to a king in Western chess)
- to desire
- to invite
- to request
How 将 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Going to bed 丬 at night 夕, a predictable future.
How to remember 将
Picture a bed 丬 on the left, then night 夕 and a hand 寸 on the right. Going to bed at night is something you know will happen, so 将 (jiāng) marks what will come in the future.
As jiāng, 将 is a formal word for "will" and appears often in news and written Chinese, as well as in words like 将来 (jiānglái) and 即将 (jíjiāng). As jiàng, it means a general, as in 将军 (jiàngjūn). Example: 会议将在明天举行。(Huìyì jiāng zài míngtiān jǔxíng.) The meeting will be held tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often use 将 in casual speech where 会 (huì) or 要 (yào) sounds more natural, since 将 is quite formal. Also watch the tone: it is jiàng (fourth tone) in 麻将 (májiàng) and in the sense of a military general.
Common words with 将
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 将来 | jiānglái | in the future; future | HSK 3 |
| 将近 | jiāngjìn | almost; nearly | HSK 3 |
| 即将 | jíjiāng | about to; on the point of; soon | HSK 4 |
| 将要 | jiāngyào | will; shall | HSK 5 |
| 将军 | jiāngjūn | general; high-ranking military officer | HSK 6 |
| 必将 | bìjiāng | inevitably | HSK 6 |
| 麻将 | májiàng | mahjong | HSK 7-9 |
| 将会 | jiānghuì | auxiliary verb introducing future action: may (be able to); will (cause) | |
| 上将 | shàngjiàng | general; admiral | |
| 中将 | zhōngjiàng | lieutenant general; vice admiral; air marshal | |
| 即将来临 | jíjiāngláilín | imminent | |
| 少将 | shàojiàng | major general; rear admiral | |
| 大将军 | dàjiāngjūn | important general; generalissimo | |
| 准将 | zhǔnjiàng | brigadier general; commodore |
将 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 将
Learning 将 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 将
How many strokes are in 将?
将 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 将 mean?
将 (jiāng) means will; shall; to use. A common word with it is 将来 (jiānglái), meaning "in the future; future".
How do you pronounce 将?
将 is pronounced jiāng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 将?
The radical of 将 is 丬. Dictionaries list 将 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 将?
The traditional form of 将 is 將. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 将 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 将 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 将 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Why does 将 sometimes work like 把?
In written Chinese, 将 (jiāng) can mean "to take" and move the object before the verb, just like 把 (bǎ). For example, 请将门关上 (qǐng jiāng mén guān shang) means "please close the door." This use is formal and common in signs and instructions.
What is the difference between 将来 and 未来?
Both mean the future. 将来 (jiānglái) usually refers to a person's own coming years, as in 我将来想当医生. 未来 (wèilái) feels broader and more abstract, often used for society, technology, or the world.