更 meaning and stroke order
More; even more; further
How to write 更, stroke by stroke
7 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
Meaning of 更
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- more
- even more
- further
- still
- still more
- to change or replace
- to experience
- one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided
- watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard)
How 更 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 曰 (to speak), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 更
更 is built from 一 on top, 曰 (yuē, to say) in the middle, and 乂 crossing through it. Picture someone saying (曰) one (一) thing, then crossing it out (乂) to change it and say something more, which links both meanings: to change (gēng) and more (gèng).
As gèng, it is an adverb placed before adjectives or verbs to mean "even more," often in comparisons. As gēng, it appears mostly in compound words about changing, like 更新 (gēngxīn) and 更换 (gēnghuàn). Example: 今天比昨天更冷。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng lěng.) Today is even colder than yesterday.
Common mistake: Learners often read every 更 as gèng, but in words about changing, such as 更新, 更改 and 更衣室, it is first tone gēng. Also do not confuse 更 with 便 (biàn), which has a person radical 亻 on the left.
Common words with 更
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 更加 | gèngjiā | more (than sth else); even more | HSK 3 |
| 更新 | gēngxīn | to replace the old with new; to renew | HSK 5 |
| 更换 | gēnghuàn | to replace (a worn-out tire etc); to change (one's address etc) | HSK 5 |
| 更是 | gèng shì | even more (so) | HSK 6 |
| 变更 | biàngēng | to change; to alter | HSK 6 |
| 更改 | gēnggǎi | to alter | HSK 7-9 |
| 更衣室 | gēngyīshì | change room; dressing room; locker room; (euphemism) toilet | HSK 7-9 |
| 自力更生 | zìlì-gēngshēng | regeneration through one's own effort (idiom); self-reliance | HSK 7-9 |
| 更为 | gèngwéi | even more | |
| 更深 | gēngshēn | deep at night | |
| 更正 | gēngzhèng | to correct; to make a correction | |
| 更衣 | gēngyī | to change clothes; to go to the toilet (euphemism) | |
| 三更半夜 | sāngēngbànyè | (idiom) in the depth of the night; very late at night | |
| 知更鸟 | zhīgēngniǎo | redbreast; robin |
更 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 更
Learning 更 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 更
How many strokes are in 更?
更 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 更 mean?
更 (gèng) means more; even more; further. A common word with it is 更加 (gèngjiā), meaning "more (than sth else); even more".
How do you pronounce 更?
更 is pronounced gèng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 更?
The radical of 更 is 曰, which carries the idea of "to speak". Dictionaries list 更 under this radical.
Is 更 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 更 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 更 and 更加?
Both mean "even more" and go before adjectives, as in 更好 or 更加好. 更加 sounds a bit more formal and is usually followed by a two-syllable word, like 更加努力 (gèngjiā nǔlì).
Why does 更 relate to the night?
In old China the night was divided into five watches called 更 (gēng), each about two hours long. You still see this in phrases like 半夜三更 (bànyè sāngēng), meaning deep in the night.