How to Write 康 (kāng) — Meaning “health or peace”

Imagine a person (like a figure from the lower part 隶) resting under a roof (广) after exercising, feeling healthy and peaceful. This picture links the shape to the meaning of health and peace.

Write the radical 广 first (dot, horizontal stroke, then left-falling stroke), making sure it covers the top of the lower part. The lower part 隶 has a long vertical stroke through the middle; a common mistake is to forget the small hook at the end of that vertical stroke.

㢆 is a rare ancient character not used in modern Chinese, so you will almost never see it. 庠 (xiáng) means 'school' and has the lower part 羊 (sheep), while 康 has 隶; 庠 is now only found in historical or literary contexts.

康 appears in common words like 健康 (jiànkāng, health/healthy), 康复 (kāngfù, recover from illness), and 安康 (ānkāng, peace and health). It is often used in blessings, such as wishing someone '平安健康' (peace and health).

Common words containing 康 include: 健康 (jiàn kāng) — Health / Healthy; 康复 (kāng fù) — recover; 安康 (ān kāng) — Good health and peace.