膏

2 readings · tap one to hear it

ointment; paste; CL:帖[tie3]

Sound it out + = · + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

⺼ meaning “flesh” + 高 sound ( gāo )

Components 高⺼

ointment · Heisig RSH #1636

Eiffel Tower + flesh

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
生石膏	shēng shí gāo	gypsum CaSO4·2(H2O); plaster
狗皮膏药	gǒu pí gāo yao	dogskin plaster, used in TCM for treating contusions, rheumatism etc; quack medicine; sham…
雪花膏	xuě huā gāo	vanishing cream; cold cream (makeup)
圣膏油	shèng gāo yóu	chrism; holy anointing oil
导热膏	dǎo rè gāo	thermal grease
散热膏	sàn rè gāo	thermal grease
民脂民膏	mín zhī mín gāo	lit. the fat and wealth of the people (idiom); the nation's hard-won wealth (esp. as an ob…
石膏墙板	shí gāo qiáng bǎn	drywall; gypsum wallboard; plasterboard
硬石膏	yìng shí gāo	anhydrite CaSO4
石膏	shí gāo	gypsum CaSO4·2(H2O); plaster; plaster cast (for a broken bone)
熟石膏	shú shí gāo	plaster of Paris; calcined gypsum
膏方	gāo fāng	medicinal concoction in paste form (TCM)
膏药旗	gāo yao qí	Japanese flag (derog.)
膏血	gāo xuè	lit. fat and blood; fruit of one's hard labor; flesh and blood
油膏	yóu gāo	semi-solid fat-based substance; (medicine) ointment
膏立	gào lì	to annoint
膏药	gāo yao	herbal plaster applied to a wound
药膏	yào gāo	ointment
受膏	shòu gāo	to be anointed
牙膏	yá gāo	toothpaste; CL:管[guan3]

Characters sharing the sound component 高 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
高 sound part	gāo	tall, lofty; high, elevated
豪	háo	brave, heroic, chivalrous
稿	gǎo	draft, manuscript, rough copy
敲	qiāo	to hammer, to pound, to strike
搞	gǎo	to do, to fix, to make, to settle
镐	hào	stove; bright
蒿	hāo	mugwort, wormwood, Artemisia; to give off a scent
槁	gǎo	to wither; withered, rotten, dead
篙	gāo	a pole used to punt a boat
犒	kào	victory feast; to throw a banquet
缟	gǎo	plain white silk
暠	gǎo	daybreak; brilliant, bright