尚 meaning and stroke order
Still; yet; to value
How to write 尚, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 尚
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- still
- yet
- to value
- to esteem
How 尚 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: ⺌ (), shared by 4 characters on this site.
How to remember 尚
Picture 口 (kǒu, mouth) inside a frame 冂 with ⺌ rising like steam on top: a voice going up to praise something it values. That is why 尚 means to esteem, and in formal writing also still or yet.
Today 尚 mostly appears in compound words and formal writing rather than alone. 尚未 (shàngwèi) is a formal way to say not yet, and 时尚 (shíshàng) means fashion. Example: 结果尚未公布。(Jiéguǒ shàngwèi gōngbù.) The results have not been announced yet.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 尚 with 常 (cháng, often) and 堂 (táng, hall), which share the same top but have 巾 or 土 below. Also note that in 和尚 (héshang, monk) the 尚 is said in the neutral tone, not shàng.
Common words with 尚
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
尚 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 尚
Learning 尚 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 尚
How many strokes are in 尚?
尚 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 尚 mean?
尚 (shàng) means still; yet; to value. A common word with it is 高尚 (gāoshàng), meaning "noble; lofty".
How do you pronounce 尚?
尚 is pronounced shàng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 尚?
The radical of 尚 is ⺌. Dictionaries list 尚 under this radical.
Is 尚 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 尚 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Can I use 尚 instead of 还 to say still in everyday speech?
Usually not. 还 (hái) is the normal spoken word, while 尚 sounds formal or written. You will see 尚 in news, signs, and set phrases like 尚可 (shàngkě, passable).
How is 尚 different from 上 since both are read shàng?
They share a sound but not a meaning. 上 means up or above, while 尚 means to value or still. So 高尚 (gāoshàng) means noble, and it is not written with 上.