祥

xiáng
adjective #17,501

Meanings

  1. 1 auspicious
  2. 2 propitious

Examples

HSK 3
Hóngsè zài Zhōngguó shì jíxiáng de yánsè.
Red is an auspicious color in China.
HSK 5
Guònián shí wǒmen zài ménshàng guà le jíxiáng de zhuāngshì.
We hung an auspicious decoration on the door for New Year.
HSK 7-9
Nǎinai de liǎn hěn cíxiáng.
Grandma has a kindly face.

Tips

memory
礻 (altar) + 羊 (sheep) - sheep offered at the altar brings good fortune.

Components

radical
礻 shì
spirit; altar (radical form of 示)
The altar radical on the left marks 祥 as a matter of the spirits - auspicious omens, blessings invoked at the shrine. It anchors the meaning and indexes 祥 with 神 god, 福 fortune, 祝 wish, 祯 lucky, 祺 felicitous - every blessing-character.
phonetic
羊 yáng
sheep (here phonetic)
羊 supplies the sound yáng → xiáng, a small palatalisation. Sheep were also classic sacrificial animals, so the picture lends a soft semantic flavour: an auspicious offering. The phonetic series 羊 builds 样 shape, 详 detailed, 洋 ocean, 痒 itch.

Stroke Order

祥 xiáng