Definition
江 (jiāng) refers to a large river, often one that flows into the sea (e.g., the Yangtze). 河 (hé, HSK3) is a broader everyday term for any river, including smaller ones. 河流 (hé liú, HSK5) is the more formal, generic word for 'river'. In speech, 河 is far more common; 江 is reserved for big, named rivers.
noun
river
Measure word · 条, 道
Easily confused
- 左zuǒlook-alikeleft (direction, side)
- 将jiāngsound-alike(adverb) will, be going to
- 扛kánglook-aliketo lift (a heavy object) with both hands, often over one's shoulder
- 讲jiǎngsound-aliketo speak, to tell
- 红hónglook-alikered (color)
- 奖jiǎngsound-alike(noun) prize, award
- 酱jiàngsound-alike(noun) thick fermented paste (e.g., soybean paste, broad bean paste)
- 降jiàngsound-aliketo fall, to drop, to descend (of temperature, prices, altitude, etc.)
- 姜jiāngsound-alikeginger
- 僵jiāngsound-alikestiff, rigid (especially of body parts from cold, staying still, or after death)
Examples
- 江。Zhè tiáo jiāng hěn cháng.This river is very long.
- 江。jiāng lǐ yǒu yú.There are fish in the river.
- 江。Wǒmen zuò chuán guò jiāng.We cross the river by boat.
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