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鑔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鑔chǎcymbalsx, 22 strokes, radical 釒
chǎ(cha3) T3
  1. 1cymbals
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鑔chǎ(cha3)

The character 鑔 (chǎ) refers to a type of musical instrument known as cymbals, often used in orchestras and traditional Chinese music. Cymbals are typically made of metal and produce a loud, crashing sound, making them important for keeping rhythm or adding dramatic effects in music compositions.

Strokes22Radical釒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese orchestras, cymbals (鑔) play a significant role in performances, especially during celebrations like the Lunar New Year, where their loud sound is believed to drive away evil spirits.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shiny pair of cymbals clashing together, creating a loud 'chǎ' sound. The character 鑔 has the radical 钅 (metal) indicating its metallic nature, which is essential for producing sound, while the rest of the character can remind you of the action of crashing cymbals.

Meanings of 鑔

chǎ(cha3)
1cymbals
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鑔

鑔Simplified
22Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鑔

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鑔

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AI Study Notes for 鑔

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 鑔 with similar-sounding characters or mispronouncing the tone. It is typically used in more formal or artistic contexts related to music. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 鑔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding this character can enhance your appreciation of Chinese music terminology. Focus on other musical instrument names to build a broader vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鑔 with other metal-related characters due to its radical. For instance, some might mistakenly use 钢 (steel) instead of 鑔 when discussing musical instruments.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鑔

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Etymology of 鑔

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

bell

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鑔

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half察 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 鑔? 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 鑔?

Decomposition of 鑔

IDS Structure⿰釒察
鑔Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
察Cha2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鑔?

How to say cymbals in Chinese

“cymbals” in Chinese is鑔chǎ

The character 鑔 (chǎ) refers to a type of musical instrument known as cymbals, often used in orchestras and traditional Chinese music. Cymbals are typically made of metal and produce a loud, crashing sound, making them important for keeping rhythm or adding dramatic effects in music compositions.

When to use 鑔

Common mistakes include confusing 鑔 with similar-sounding characters or mispronouncing the tone. It is typically used in more formal or artistic contexts related to music. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鑔 with other metal-related characters due to its radical. For instance, some might mistakenly use 钢 (steel) instead of 鑔 when discussing musical instruments.

Write 鑔

鑔

Practice writing 鑔 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 鑔

Words Containing This Character1
镲chǎsmall cymbals鑔
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 镲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鑔

It is pronounced as 'chǎ', with a falling-rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鑔?

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.