刚

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 刚 (gāng) is composed of two parts: the radical 金 (jīn), which means "metal," and the phonetic component 冈 (gāng), which is a pictograph of a hill or mountain. The character 刚 originally meant "hard" or "strong," and it was often used to describe metals or other hard materials. Over time, the meaning of 刚 expanded to include the ideas of "firmness," "resolute," and "unyielding." Today, 刚 is commonly used in Chinese to describe people who are strong-willed or determined, as well as things that are hard or durable.The character 刚 is also used in a number of Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 刚愎自用 (gāngbì zìyòng) means "stubborn and self-willed," while the proverb 刚则易折 (gāng zé yì zhé) means "the strong are easily broken." These idioms and proverbs reflect the cultural values of the Chinese people, who place a high value on strength and determination.The character 刚 is a powerful and versatile character that can be used to express a variety of ideas and emotions. It is an important character for HSK learners to master, as it is used frequently in both written and spoken Chinese.