角 (jiǎo): horn (of an animal)

Meanings

1 horn (of an animal)
2 corner
3 angle
4 jiao (1/10 of a yuan)

Examples

这个角是九十度。

Zhège jiǎo.

This angle is ninety degrees.

桌子的角太尖了。

Zhuōzi de jiǎo.

The corner of the table is too sharp.

这个东西三块五角钱。

Zhège dōngxi jiǎo.

This costs three yuan fifty.

Tips

usage

As currency, 角 = 0.1 yuan (formal/written). In speech most people say 毛 instead.

mistakes

Two readings: jiǎo for horn / corner / angle / the coin, and jué for theatrical role and competing. The jué readings are a much smaller, more literary set — when you see 角 in compounds like 角色 or 角逐, switch to jué.

Components

pictograph

角 jiǎo

horn; corner; angle

Kangxi radical #148 and a pictograph — the oracle-bone form drew an animal horn with curved ridges. The upper hook is the tip; the inner cross-strokes mark the natural ribbing. From 'horn' came 'corner / angle' (geometry) and the 1/10-yuan coin. The separate jué reading ('role / compete') comes from horns clashing in combat. Not decomposable into independent parts.

Radical

Horn Kangxi #148

The horn radical. A pictograph of an animal horn with ridged surface striations. From the original concrete sense it generalises to 'corner' and 'angle'. Indexes a small set of horn- and shape-related characters: 解 (untie/dissect), 觥 (drinking horn), 觞 (wine cup). Free word 角 is far more common than the radical role.