荒 Strokes Write it Listen 荒 huāng desolate; shortage; scarce HSK 7–9 9 strokes Radical 艹 Sound + meaning 4 words Built from芒meaningmángblade; ray; silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis川soundchuānstream, river How it works芒 hints at the meaning (grass), and 川 chuān hints at the sound.