亢

kàng

the throat; high or lofty; proud; excessive; 2nd lunar mansion

Meaning

Anatomical: The throat, neck, or upper respiratory passage.
Spatial/Quantitative: High, lofty, or reaching an extreme point. Often implies a peak of intensity rather than simple altitude.
Psychological/Behavioral: Pride, arrogance, or stubbornness; a "stiff-necked" refusal to bow.
State of Tension: Excessive, overstretched, or violent (in the sense of extreme tension or instability).
Astronomical: The second lunar mansion ("The Neck"), associated with the star κ Virginis.

Primarily functions as an adjective or noun.
Occasionally appears as a verb meaning "to rise," "to stretch," or "to overextend."

When contrasted with other terms for "high" (高) or "proud" (傲), this glyph specifically carries the nuance of tension and strain.

The gloss "skilled" is rare; it likely refers to having reached the "peak" or highest level of a craft. Prioritize senses of height or excess unless the context specifically demands a measure of ability.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.