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釺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
釺qiānawl; a tool for boring holesx, 11 strokes, radical 釒
qiān(qian1)qian T1
  1. 1awl; a tool for boring holes
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March 24, 2026

釺qiān(qian1)

The character 釺 (qiān) refers to an awl, a pointed tool used for boring holes in wood, leather, or other materials. It is commonly used in various crafting and manual tasks, especially in traditional Chinese woodworking and leatherworking contexts.

Strokes11Radical釒
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, tools like the awl are essential in making intricate designs in various materials, reflecting a deep respect for craftsmanship and artistry in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine an 'awl' that resembles a needle piercing through a piece of leather. The character 釺 has the metal radical 钅 (jīn) on the left, suggesting that it's a metal tool, while the right part sounds like 'qiān,' which can remind you of 'keen' – a keen tool for making precise holes.

Meanings of 釺

qiān(qian1)
1awl; a tool for boring holes
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 釺

釺Simplified
11Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 釺

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AI study notes for 釺

Usage Notes

In informal contexts, you might hear this term used amongst craftsmen or hobbyists. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar tools, like 针 (zhēn), which means 'needle.' The tone is also crucial; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone to convey the correct meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As 釺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on understanding its components and usage in specific contexts. It connects to other tools like 锤 (chuí, hammer) and 刀 (dāo, knife), which are more commonly used in HSK levels, allowing for a practical understanding of tool-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 釺 (qiān) with similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly use 针 (zhēn) instead, which means 'needle.' Remember, 釺 specifically refers to an awl.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 釺

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Etymology of 釺

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A metal 釒 awl 千; 千 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 釺?

Decomposition of 釺

IDS Structure⿰釒千
釺Full character
=
釒jin1
left
千qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 釺?

How to say awl; a tool for boring holes in Chinese

“awl; a tool for boring holes” in Chinese is釺qiān

The character 釺 (qiān) refers to an awl, a pointed tool used for boring holes in wood, leather, or other materials. It is commonly used in various crafting and manual tasks, especially in traditional Chinese woodworking and leatherworking contexts.

When to use 釺

In informal contexts, you might hear this term used amongst craftsmen or hobbyists. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar tools, like 针 (zhēn), which means 'needle.' The tone is also crucial; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone to convey the correct meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 釺 (qiān) with similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly use 针 (zhēn) instead, which means 'needle.' Remember, 釺 specifically refers to an awl.

Write 釺

釺

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Word Family of 釺

Words containing this character3
钎子hammer drill for boring through rock釺子
钎qiāna drill (for boring through rock)釺
钢钎a steel drill鋼鐱
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 釺

What does 钎子 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 釺

An awl is primarily used for boring holes in materials such as wood or leather.

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