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鎛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鎛bólarge bell; hoe, spadezg, 18 strokes, radical 釒
bó(bo2) T2
  1. 1large bell; hoe, spade
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鎛bó(bo2)

The character 鎛 (bó) primarily refers to a large bell, often used in temples or festivals, symbolizing auspiciousness and celebration. Additionally, it can denote farming tools such as a hoe or spade, highlighting its connection to agriculture and manual labor. This dual meaning reflects both cultural and practical aspects of life in Chinese society.

Strokes18Radical釒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, large bells like the ones referred to by 鎛 are often found in Buddhist temples, where they are rung during ceremonies to mark important events. This connects the character to rituals and communal gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant bell (鎛) hanging in a temple, ringing loudly to announce a festival. The character combines the metal radical (金) on the left, suggesting something made of metal, with the sound 'bó' to evoke the booming sound of the bell. Visualize the bell and the hoe together in a farmer's hand, connecting the two meanings.

Meanings of 鎛

bó(bo2)
1large bell; hoe, spade
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鎛

鎛Simplified
18Strokes
釒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鎛

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Podcast: 鎛

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AI Study Notes for 鎛

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation of the tone as it is pronounced with a rising tone. This character is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation, particularly in urban areas. Common collocations include large bells used in cultural contexts or specific farming terms where the hoe is mentioned.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in HSK levels, understanding 鎛 can help learners connect with vocabulary related to tools and instruments, often found in HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on the context of agriculture and cultural practices, as this can enhance comprehension in real-life scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鎛 with other characters with similar sounds or meanings, such as 钟 (zhōng), which also means 'bell'. Remember that 鎛 specifically refers to a large bell or a hoe/spade, not just any bell.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鎛

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Etymology of 鎛

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

bell

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鎛

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half尃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybell
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鎛? 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 鎛?

Decomposition of 鎛

IDS Structure⿰釒尃
鎛Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
尃fu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鎛?

How to say large bell; hoe, spade in Chinese

“large bell; hoe, spade” in Chinese is鎛bó

The character 鎛 (bó) primarily refers to a large bell, often used in temples or festivals, symbolizing auspiciousness and celebration. Additionally, it can denote farming tools such as a hoe or spade, highlighting its connection to agriculture and manual labor. This dual meaning reflects both cultural and practical aspects of life in Chinese society.

When to use 鎛

Be cautious with the pronunciation of the tone as it is pronounced with a rising tone. This character is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation, particularly in urban areas. Common collocations include large bells used in cultural contexts or specific farming terms where the hoe is mentioned.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鎛 with other characters with similar sounds or meanings, such as 钟 (zhōng), which also means 'bell'. Remember that 鎛 specifically refers to a large bell or a hoe/spade, not just any bell.

Write 鎛

鎛

Practice writing 鎛 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 鎛

Words Containing This Character1
镈bóhoe鎛
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 镈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鎛

鎛 is often used in contexts relating to festivals, temples, or discussions about farming tools.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鎛?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.