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March 24, 2026
爪zhǎo(zhao3)
The character 爪 (zhǎo) refers to claws, nails, or talons, commonly associated with animals like cats or birds. It is often used in contexts relating to gripping or scratching, highlighting the functional aspect of these appendages in nature.
Strokes4Radical爪Frequency#7524DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, claws are often associated with strength and ferocity, particularly in folklore and stories featuring mythical creatures like dragons or tigers, which symbolize power.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cat's sharp claws (爪) gripping onto a tree branch. The character has a visual resemblance to the way claws extend outward, and the pronunciation 'zhǎo' can be remembered by picturing a cat 'meowing' while showcasing its claws.
Meanings of 爪
zhǎo(zhao3)
primary
1claws, nails, talons
2claw
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 爪
爪Simplified
4Strokes
爪Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 爪
Podcast: 爪
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AI Study Notes for 爪
Quick Contrast
爪 (claw) vs 牙 (tooth) — use 爪 when referring specifically to claws or nails, while 牙 refers to teeth.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 爪 with other characters that depict similar concepts, such as 指 (zhǐ) which means 'finger'. This character is generally used in informal contexts. Be careful with the third tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 爪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it appears in advanced contexts related to animals or anatomy. Students should focus on associating it with related words like 指 (finger) and 手 (hand) to enhance their vocabulary around body parts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 爪 with the character 牙 (yá), which means 'tooth'. A common error is saying '猫的牙很锋利' (The cat's teeth are sharp) instead of '猫的爪很锋利' (The cat's claws are sharp).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 爪
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Pictograph of an animal paw. Usually means "hand" when used as a component in other characters.
1The giveawayA bird's talons
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 爪? 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 爪?
Decomposition of 爪
IDS Structure⿵？丨
爪Full Character
=
丨gun3
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 爪?
How to say claws, nails, talons in Chinese
“claws, nails, talons” in Chinese is爪zhuǎ
The character 爪 (zhǎo) refers to claws, nails, or talons, commonly associated with animals like cats or birds. It is often used in contexts relating to gripping or scratching, highlighting the functional aspect of these appendages in nature.
When to use 爪
Common mistakes include confusing 爪 with other characters that depict similar concepts, such as 指 (zhǐ) which means 'finger'. This character is generally used in informal contexts. Be careful with the third tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
爪 or something close to it
爪 (claw) vs 牙 (tooth) — use 爪 when referring specifically to claws or nails, while 牙 refers to teeth.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 爪 with the character 牙 (yá), which means 'tooth'. A common error is saying '猫的牙很锋利' (The cat's teeth are sharp) instead of '猫的爪很锋利' (The cat's claws are sharp).
Write 爪
爪
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Practice writing 爪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 爪
爪 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
它有3对腿，每条腿上都有一只巨____。
It has three pairs of legs, each ending in a large claw.
