控 meaning and stroke order
To accuse, to charge; to control; to sue
How to write 控, stroke by stroke
11 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 控
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to control
- to accuse
- to charge
- to sue
- to invert a container to empty it
- (suffix) (slang) buff
How 控 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 空 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 控
控 is a hand 扌 next to 空 (kōng), which gives the sound and means empty. Picture a hand gripping an empty space, like holding a steering wheel or a joystick to control something.
控 almost always appears in compound words such as 控制 (kòngzhì, to control), 失控 (shīkòng, to lose control) and 指控 (zhǐkòng, accusation). In slang it works as a suffix meaning a fan or buff of something, as in 手机控 (shǒujī kòng, a phone addict). Example: 他控制不了自己的情绪。(Tā kòngzhì bùliǎo zìjǐ de qíngxù.) He can't control his emotions.
Common mistake: Learners often read 控 with the first tone like its phonetic part 空 (kōng), but 控 is fourth tone, kòng. Also do not confuse it with 腔 (qiāng, cavity), which has the same right side but a flesh radical 月.
Common words with 控
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 控制 | kòngzhì | to control | HSK 5 |
| 监控 | jiānkòng | to monitor | HSK 7-9 |
| 失控 | shīkòng | to go out of control | HSK 7-9 |
| 控告 | kònggào | to accuse; to charge; to indict | HSK 7-9 |
| 操控 | cāokòng | to control; to manipulate | HSK 7-9 |
| 遥控 | yáokòng | to direct operations from a remote location; to remotely control | HSK 7-9 |
| 调控 | tiáokòng | to regulate; to control | HSK 7-9 |
| 指控 | zhǐkòng | accusation; a (criminal) charge | |
| 掌控 | zhǎngkòng | to control; in control of | |
| 控制室 | kòngzhìshì | control room | |
| 控方 | kòngfāng | (law) the prosecution | |
| 被控 | bèikòng | to be charged; to be accused (of an offense) | |
| 遥控器 | yáokòngqì | a remote control | |
| 控诉 | kòngsù | to accuse; to denounce |
控 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 控
How many strokes are in 控?
控 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 控 mean?
控 (kòng) means to accuse, to charge; to control; to sue. A common word with it is 控制 (kòngzhì), meaning "to control".
How do you pronounce 控?
控 is pronounced kòng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 控?
The radical of 控 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 控 under this radical.
Is 控 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 控 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 控 mean in words like 颜控 or 猫控?
As an internet slang suffix, 控 means someone who is obsessed with or a big fan of something. 颜控 (yánkòng) is a person who cares a lot about good looks, and 猫控 (māokòng) is a cat lover. This use came into Chinese through Japanese.
What is the difference between 控告 and 指控?
Both relate to accusing someone. 控告 (kònggào) is a verb meaning to formally bring a charge or sue, often in court. 指控 (zhǐkòng) is often used as a noun meaning an accusation or charge, though it can also be a verb.