癢 meaning and stroke order
To itch; to tickle
How to write 癢, stroke by stroke
20 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 癢
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to itch
- to tickle
How 癢 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Sickness.
疒 gives the meaning and 養 hints at the sound.
Radical: 疒 (sickness), shared by 127 characters on this site.
How to remember 癢
The sickness radical 疒 marks a bodily discomfort, and 養 (yǎng, to raise) inside gives the sound. Picture a skin problem that keeps raising the urge to scratch.
癢 is the traditional form, while mainland China writes 痒. It describes a physical itch and also the feeling of being tickled, often in words like 痒痒 (yǎngyang) and 发痒 (fāyǎng). Example: 我的背很癢。(Wǒ de bèi hěn yǎng.) My back is very itchy.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 癢 with 養 (yǎng, to raise), since they sound the same. Only 癢 has the 疒 sickness frame, and it is needed whenever you mean itching.
Common words with 癢
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 癢
How many strokes are in 癢?
癢 is written with 20 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 癢 mean?
癢 (yǎng) means to itch; to tickle. A common word with it is 痒痒 (yǎngyang), meaning "to itch; to tickle".
How do you pronounce 癢?
癢 is pronounced yǎng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 癢?
The radical of 癢 is 疒, which carries the idea of "sickness". Dictionaries list 癢 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 癢?
癢 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 痒, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do I say "to scratch an itch" in Chinese?
Use 挠痒痒 (náo yǎngyang) or 抓癢 (zhuā yǎng). For example, 他在挠痒痒 (tā zài náo yǎngyang) means he is scratching an itch, and it can also mean tickling someone.
Can 癢 be used figuratively?
Yes. 心癢 (xīn yǎng) describes being itching or eager to do something, and 手癢 (shǒu yǎng) means your hands itch to try something, like playing a game or a sport.