膏 Stroke Order — How to Write 膏

Stroke Order

膏 is written in 14 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical ⺼, then complete the remaining strokes.

Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.

膏 Radical and Character Components

Components:高⺼

膏 is a phono-semantic compound: ⺼ (flesh) carries the meaning, while 高 indicates the sound.

Radical: ⺼ + 10 more strokes

膏 Pronunciation and Pinyin

gāo
gào

Meanings of 膏 in Chinese

gāo膏

Fat, rich, fertile; often used to describe rich land or luxurious food.

这片土地十分膏腴，农作物长势喜人。

This land is very fertile, and the crops are growing wonderfully.

Refers to rich, beneficial, or nourishing substances like fat or oil; metaphorically used for beneficial rain or favors.

今年的春雨如膏，滋润了大地万物

This year's spring rain is like rich oil, nourishing all things on earth.

In traditional Chinese medicine, 'gāo' refers to the fat around the heart, considered a vital area beyond the reach of medicine, often used in the idiom 'bìng rù gāo huāng' (disease has reached a critical and incurable stage). It is used to describe a problem or situation that has become extremely serious or beyond remedy.

这个计划的问题已经病入膏肓，无法挽回了。

The problems with this plan have become critical and incurable; it's beyond redemption.

gào膏

To apply grease or oil to an axle or machine part for lubrication.

师傅仔细地给机器的齿轮膏了油，确保它运转顺畅。

The master carefully greased the machine's gears to ensure its smooth operation.

To dip a brush in ink and wipe off the excess on the edge of an inkstone.

他拿起毛笔，在砚台边上膏了膏墨，然后开始写字。

He picked up the brush, dipped it in ink and wiped off the excess on the inkstone edge, then began to write.

Common Words and Phrases with 膏

gāo膏jì剂

ointment; plaster

这种草药膏剂对蚊虫叮咬引起的瘙痒很有效。

This herbal ointment is very effective for itching caused by mosquito bites.

gāo膏liáng粱

Refers to rich and delicious food (e.g., fat meat and fine grain); by extension, also refers to sons of wealthy families or dandies.

那个从小养尊处优的膏粱子弟，从未体会过人间疾苦。

That pampered son of a wealthy family, having grown up in luxury, had never experienced the hardships of life.

gāo膏xuè血

Hard-earned wealth or the fruits of one's labor, often implying exploitation.

为了家庭的幸福，他倾注了自己的全部膏血，日夜辛劳。

For the happiness of his family, he poured out all his lifeblood, toiling day and night.

gāo膏yào药

An adhesive or medicated plaster, often a semi-solid paste spread on cloth or paper, applied to the skin for an extended period to treat ailments or relieve pain.