尷 meaning and stroke order
Embarrassed; ill-at-ease
How to write 尷, stroke by stroke
17 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 尷
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- used in 尷尬|尴尬[gan1 ga4]
How 尷 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Lame.
尢 gives the meaning and 監 hints at the sound.
Radical: 尢 (weak), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 尷
The left part 尢 means lame, like a person with a weak leg, and 監 (jiān) gives the sound. Picture someone limping awkwardly while being watched, and you feel the embarrassment of 尷.
尷 almost never appears alone. It lives inside the word 尷尬 (gāngà), meaning awkward or embarrassed, used for people, moments, and situations. Example: 氣氛有點尷尬。(Qìfēn yǒudiǎn gāngà.) The atmosphere is a bit awkward.
Common mistake: Learners often read 尷 as jiān because of the 監 component, but the correct reading is gān with first tone. Also note that 尬 is fourth tone (gà), so 尷尬 is gāngà, not gāngā.
Common words with 尷
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 尷尬 | gāngà | awkward; embarrassed | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 尷
How many strokes are in 尷?
尷 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 尷 mean?
尷 (gān) means embarrassed; ill-at-ease. A common word with it is 尴尬 (gāngà), meaning "awkward; embarrassed".
How do you pronounce 尷?
尷 is pronounced gān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 尷?
The radical of 尷 is 尢, which carries the idea of "weak". Dictionaries list 尷 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 尷?
尷 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 尴, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 尷 the same character as 尴?
Yes. 尷 is the traditional form and 尴 is the simplified form used in mainland China. They have the same reading and meaning.
Can 尷尬 describe a situation, or only a feeling?
It can describe both. You can say 我很尷尬 (wǒ hěn gāngà) for I feel embarrassed, or 尷尬的處境 (gāngà de chǔjìng) for an awkward situation.