Meanings of 鉗
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About 鉗
Podcast: 鉗
Podcast: 鉗
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AI Study Notes for 鉗
钳 (qián, specifically refers to pliers or tongs) vs 夹 (jiā, means to clip or clamp) — use 鉗 when emphasizing gripping tools, while 夹 focuses on the action of clamping.
Learners often confuse 鉗 with similar sounding words that refer to other tools or actions. It is more formal and specific than general terms for gripping tools. Common collocations include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and use in industrial contexts.
While 鉗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your technical vocabulary related to tools. Focus on the radicals and how they combine to form meaning in other words related to machinery or tools.
Learners often mistakenly use 鉗 to refer to general gripping tools, while it specifically denotes pincers or pliers. For example, saying '我需要一个鉗' (I need a tool) is vague; instead, say '我需要一个鉗子' (I need a pair of pliers).
Pronunciation of 鉗
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Etymology of 鉗
Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甘 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鉗.
metal
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鉗
Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甘 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鉗.
- 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half甘 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymetal
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鉗? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鉗
Identify the Components
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How to say pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress in Chinese
“pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress” in Chinese is鉗
The character 鉗 (qián) refers to tools such as pincers, pliers, or tongs, which are used for gripping or compressing objects. In a broader context, it can imply the action of compressing or squeezing something tightly, often used in mechanical or crafting scenarios.
When to use 鉗
Learners often confuse 鉗 with similar sounding words that refer to other tools or actions. It is more formal and specific than general terms for gripping tools. Common collocations include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and use in industrial contexts.
鉗 or something close to it
钳 (qián, specifically refers to pliers or tongs) vs 夹 (jiā, means to clip or clamp) — use 鉗 when emphasizing gripping tools, while 夹 focuses on the action of clamping.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 鉗 to refer to general gripping tools, while it specifically denotes pincers or pliers. For example, saying '我需要一个鉗' (I need a tool) is vague; instead, say '我需要一个鉗子' (I need a pair of pliers).
Write 鉗
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Practice writing 鉗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 鉗
Compound Meaning
What does 钳 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鉗
Related words include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and other tool-related terms that share the metal radical.
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