角 (jiǎo) · horn (of an animal), corner, angle

Meanings

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

Examples

HSK 1

这个东西三块五角钱。

Zhège dōngxi sān kuài wǔ jiǎo qián.

This costs three yuan fifty.

HSK 5

这个角是九十度。

Zhège jiǎo shì jiǔshí dù.

This angle is ninety degrees.

HSK 6

桌子的角太尖了。

Zhuōzi de jiǎo tài jiān le.

The corner of the table is too sharp.

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.