How to Write 登 (dēng) — Meaning “to climb; to publish; to register; to board”

Picture two legs (癶) climbing up onto a tall platform shaped like a bean (豆). This image of ‘legs on a bean’ helps you recall that 登 means 'to climb' or 'to step up'.

When writing 登, note that the top radical 癶 is made of two separate strokes on the left and right, not a continuous line. A common mistake is making the bottom part 豆 too wide; keep it narrower and centered under 癶 to maintain balance.

Common expressions include 登山 (dēng shān) meaning 'to climb a mountain' or 'mountaineering', 登记 (dēng jì) for 'to register' or 'check in' at a hotel or event, and 登机 (dēng jī) meaning 'to board a plane'. You use these in travel, official procedures, or outdoor activities.

登 is very practical, appearing in contexts like boarding transportation, registering for services, or posting content online (e.g., 登报 to publish in a newspaper). Culturally, 登高 (climbing high) is associated with the Double Ninth Festival, where people climb hills for good luck.

Common words containing 登 include: 登山 (dēng shān) — to climb a mountain; mountaineering; 登记 (dēng jì) — to register; to check in; 登机 (dēng jī) — to board a plane.