降

2 readings · tap one to hear it

to drop; to fall; to come down; to descend

Sound it out + + = · + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

阝 meaning “hill” + 夅 sound ( jiàng )

Components 阝夅

descend · Heisig RSH #1069

pinnacle + walking legs + monocle + 年 year

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

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

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
一物降一物	yī wù xiáng yī wù	lit. one object bests another object; every item has a weakness (idiom); there is a rock t…
一力降十会	yī lì xiáng shí huì	brute force overcomes clever tactics
生物降解	shēng wù jiàng jiě	biodegradation
降水量	jiàng shuǐ liàng	precipitation (meteorology); measured quantity of rain
反空降	fǎn kōng jiàng	anti-aircraft defense
圣神降临周	Shèng shén jiàng lín zhōu	Whitsuntide
圣神降临	Shèng shén jiàng lín	Whit Sunday (Christian Festival celebrating the Holy Spirit)
从天而降	cóng tiān ér jiàng	(idiom) to fall from the sky; (idiom) (fig.) to appear unexpectedly; to drop into one's la…
降水	jiàng shuǐ	rain and snow; precipitation (meteorology)
降生	jiàng shēng	to be born; arrival of newborn; birth (of a savior or religious leader)
空降兵	kōng jiàng bīng	paratrooper; airborne troops
降血压药	jiàng xuè yā yào	antihypertensive drug
无条件投降	wú tiáo jiàn tóu xiáng	unconditional surrender
下降	xià jiàng	to decline; to drop; to fall; to go down; to decrease
降下	jiàng xià	to fall; to drop
自由降落	zì yóu jiàng luò	free fall
空降	kōng jiàng	to drop from the sky; (fig.) to appear out of nowhere; (attributive) airborne
降火	jiàng huǒ	to decrease internal heat (Chinese medicine)
降雨量	jiàng yǔ liàng	precipitation; quantity of rainfall
降临节	Jiàng lín jié	Advent (Christian season preceding Christmas)

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

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
夅 sound part	jiàng	to descend, to fall; to drop, to lower
绛	jiàng	deep red; a river in Shanxi province
洚	jiàng	flood
逄	páng	surname