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鑷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
niètweezers, forceps, pliers; to nip, to pluckzg, 26 strokes, radical 釒, rank #58317, Very Hard
niè(nie4) T4
  1. 1tweezers, forceps, pliers; to nip, to pluck
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March 24, 2026
niè(nie4)

The character 鑷 (niè) refers to small tools such as tweezers, forceps, or pliers used for grasping or manipulating objects. It can also mean 'to nip' or 'to pluck,' indicating a precise action of grabbing or pulling something. This term is commonly used in medical or crafting contexts.

Strokes26RadicalFrequency#58317DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, forceps (鑷子) are often used during acupuncture or surgery, highlighting the importance of precision in medical practices. Understanding the tools used in these contexts can enhance your appreciation of Chinese healthcare practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of shiny tweezers (鑷) that resemble two metal hands (the radical 钅 represents metal) pinching something delicately. The sound 'niè' can remind you of the action of 'nipping' something small between your fingers.

Meanings of 鑷

niè(nie4)
1tweezers, forceps, pliers; to nip, to pluck
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 鑷

Simplified
26Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鑷

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AI Study Notes for 鑷

Quick Contrast

夹 (jiā, to clip) — use 鑷 (niè) when referring specifically to tweezers or similar tools, while 夹 (jiā) is more general for any clipping action.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a pair of shiny tweezers (鑷) that resemble two metal hands (the radical 钅 represents metal) pinching something delicately. The sound 'niè' can remind you of the action of 'nipping' something small between your fingers.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鑷 with similar characters; it specifically refers to tools for grasping. The word is more formal and technical, so it's best used in precise contexts rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 鑷子 (nièzi) for 'tweezers' or 'forceps.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 鑷 does not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to practical vocabulary in the medical and crafting fields. Students should focus on recognizing this character in context and associating it with related words that describe tools and actions.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, forceps (鑷子) are often used during acupuncture or surgery, highlighting the importance of precision in medical practices. Understanding the tools used in these contexts can enhance your appreciation of Chinese healthcare practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鑷 with similar-looking characters like 钳 (qián), which means 'pliers' or 'clamps.' Remember, 鑷 specifically refers to tweezers or forceps. Another common mistake is using it in informal contexts, while it's primarily a technical term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鑷

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Etymology of 鑷

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 聂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鑷.

Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鑷?

Decomposition of 鑷

IDS Structure⿰釒聶
Full Character
=
jin1
left
nie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鑷?

Write 鑷

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 鑷

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, forceps (鑷子) are often used during acupuncture or surgery, highlighting the importance of precision in medical practices. Understanding the tools used in these contexts can enhance your appreciation of Chinese healthcare practices.

Word Family of 鑷

Words Containing This Character2
镊子tweezers鑷子
niètweezers
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 镊子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鑷

While both can refer to tools for grasping, 鑷 (niè) specifically refers to tweezers or forceps, whereas 夹 (jiā) is more general and can refer to clippers or clamps.