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槳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
槳jiǎngpaddle, oarx, 15 strokes, radical 木
jiǎng(jiang3) T3
  1. 1paddle, oar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

槳jiǎng(jiang3)

The character 槳 (jiǎng) refers to a paddle or oar, which is a tool used to propel a boat through water. It is commonly used in contexts related to boating, kayaking, or any water sports where manual propulsion is required. Understanding this term can enhance vocabulary related to outdoor activities and leisure sports.

Strokes15Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, activities like rowing and dragon boat racing are popular, especially during festivals. The character 槳 embodies the spirit of teamwork and tradition that is often associated with these water sports.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong paddle (槳) with a long handle that helps you navigate through water. The left part of the character, 木 (mù), means 'wood', hinting that paddles are often made of wood, while the right part, 讲 (jiǎng), sounds like 'jiang', linking it to the pronunciation. Picture yourself 'jiang-ing' your way through a river with this wooden paddle!

Meanings of 槳

jiǎng(jiang3)
1paddle, oar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 槳

槳Simplified
15Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 槳

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Podcast: 槳

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AI Study Notes for 槳

Usage Notes

While 槳 is a straightforward term, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words related to water. It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially among enthusiasts of water sports. Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 槳 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be useful for learners who have reached HSK Level 3 or 4. It connects with other water-related vocabulary, such as 船 (chuán, boat) and 游泳 (yóu yǒng, swimming). Focus on practicing both the character and its usage in sentences about water activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 槳 with similar sounding words like 讲 (jiǎng, to speak) due to pronunciation similarities. A common mistake is saying '我有一个讲' instead of '我有一个槳', which would incorrectly translate to 'I have a speak' instead of 'I have a paddle'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 槳

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Etymology of 槳

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)將
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 槳

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half將 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 槳? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 槳?

Decomposition of 槳

IDS Structure⿱將木
槳Full Character
=
將jiang1
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 槳?

How to say paddle, oar in Chinese

“paddle, oar” in Chinese is槳jiǎng

The character 槳 (jiǎng) refers to a paddle or oar, which is a tool used to propel a boat through water. It is commonly used in contexts related to boating, kayaking, or any water sports where manual propulsion is required. Understanding this term can enhance vocabulary related to outdoor activities and leisure sports.

When to use 槳

While 槳 is a straightforward term, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words related to water. It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially among enthusiasts of water sports. Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 槳 with similar sounding words like 讲 (jiǎng, to speak) due to pronunciation similarities. A common mistake is saying '我有一个讲' instead of '我有一个槳', which would incorrectly translate to 'I have a speak' instead of 'I have a paddle'.

Write 槳

槳

Practice writing 槳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 槳

Words Containing This Character3
桨jiǎngoar槳
螺旋桨propeller螺旋槳
划桨to paddle划槳
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 桨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 槳

While 槳 specifically refers to the paddle or oar itself, 划桨 (huá jiǎng) means 'to paddle' or 'to row', focusing on the action of using the paddle.

Jason Recommends

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