How to Write 昂 (áng) — Meaning “High; to lift (one's head).”

Picture yourself standing outside and raising your head to look at the bright sun (日). Because the sun is very high, you naturally lift your head — this action is exactly the meaning of 昂. So remember: "head up to the sun" equals 昂.

The top part 日 should be narrow and not too big — keep it compact above the lower section. The bottom part 卬 has a curving left stroke that goes down and then turns right, and the right side ends with a hook. A common mistake is making the top 日 too wide or writing the bottom part too large, which unbalances the character.

早 (zǎo, early) has 日 on top of 十 (ten), while 昂 has the bottom part 卬, not a cross. 旨 (zhǐ, purpose) uses 匕 (spoon) below 日, giving a different shape. Visually, 昂's bottom has a curved stroke and a hook, making it distinct from the straight lines in 早 and 旨.

昂 appears in common words like 昂贵 (expensive, literally "high price") and 昂首 (to hold one's head high). It also appears in 激昂 (passionate, high-spirited), often describing strong emotions. Culturally, the phrase 昂首挺胸 means "to stand with head high and chest out," symbolizing confidence and pride.

Common words containing 昂 include: 昂贵 (áng guì) — Expensive.; 昂首 (áng shǒu) — To hold one's head high.; 激昂 (jī áng) — Resonant / High-spirited.