noun Uncommon

kang

käng

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Kang (noun) means a traditional heated platform bed found in northern China, built from brick or clay and warmed from beneath. Example: “The whole family slept on the kang to stay warm through the winter.”

noun

A traditional heated platform bed found in northern China, built from brick or clay and warmed from beneath.

"The whole family slept on the kang to stay warm through the winter."

verb

Slang: to copy or repurpose someone else’s creative work, especially a game mod or character, with minimal changes and pass it off as original.

"The new fighting-game mod was accused of kanging assets from an older project."

How to use kang

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a Chinese heated sleeping platform, or (as slang) to lift someone else’s creative work without proper credit.

When to use it

The "copy someone’s work" sense is very informal internet/gaming slang, not standard English.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: kangs
Third person singular: kangs
Past tense: kanged

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The whole family slept on the _____ to stay warm through the winter.

Etymology

The bed sense is from Chinese kang. The slang "to copy" sense is unrelated internet slang of disputed origin, popularised in gaming and modding communities.

Origin: Chinese

Synonyms

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copy plagiarize rip off clone

Related words

original model text copy steal cc reproduction reproduce

Rhymes for kang

Ang hang rang sang bang pang dang fang gang tang nang wang

See all rhymes for kang →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kang” mean?

The word “kang” means a traditional heated platform bed found in northern China, built from brick or clay and warmed from beneath. In plain terms, either a Chinese heated sleeping platform, or (as slang) to lift someone else’s creative work without proper credit.

How do you pronounce “kang”?

“Kang” is pronounced käng.

How do you use “kang” in a sentence?

Here is “kang” used in a sentence: “The whole family slept on the kang to stay warm through the winter.”

What part of speech is “kang”?

Depending on how it is used, “kang” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “kang” come from?

The word “kang” comes from Chinese. The bed sense is from Chinese kang. The slang "to copy" sense is unrelated internet slang of disputed origin, popularised in gaming and modding communities.

Is “kang” a common word?

“Kang” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “kang” have?

“Kang” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional heated platform bed found in northern China, built from brick or clay and warmed from beneath.

What does kang mean as internet slang?

As slang, to kang means to copy or repurpose someone else's creative work, especially a game mod or character, with minimal changes and then pass it off as original. It carries a negative connotation, implying the copier is not giving proper credit.

What is a kang bed used for?

A kang is a traditional heated platform bed found in northern China, built from brick or clay and warmed from beneath, historically used both for sleeping and as a warm place to sit during cold weather.

Is kang the same as plagiarizing?

The slang sense of kang is closely related to plagiarizing, since it involves taking someone else's creative work and presenting it as one's own with only minor alterations, though it is most often used specifically about mods, characters, or online creative content.

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Words with Chinese origins Words that start with K

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original model text copy steal cc reproduction reproduce