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钭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
钭tǒusurname Touunknown, 9 strokes, radical 钅
钭tǒuwine flagonnr, 9 strokes, radical 钅
tǒu(Tou3) T3
  1. 1surname Tou
  2. 2wine flagon
Also a Chinese surname, Tou — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

钭(鈄)tǒu(Tou3)

The character 钭 (tǒu) refers to a traditional wine flagon, a vessel used for serving or storing wine. It is also a surname in Chinese culture, though less common. In usage, it often appears in historical contexts or literature related to wine and festivities.

Strokes9Radical钅
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, wine plays an important role in celebrations and rituals, and the 钭 symbolizes the elegance of serving wine during important occasions. The craftsmanship of such vessels reflects the artistry of ancient Chinese metalwork.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful wine flagon made of metal (the radical 钅 represents metal) that holds a fine wine. The pronunciation 'tǒu' sounds like 'toe,' so picture a toe dipping into the wine, creating a memorable image of this unique vessel.

Meanings of 钭

tǒu(Tou3)
1wine flagon
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 钭

钭Simplified
鈄Traditional
9Strokes
钅Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 钭

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Podcast: 钭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 钭

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 钭 is not commonly used in modern everyday conversation and may be found primarily in literature or historical texts. It is also important to know that the pronunciation is crucial; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words. In formal contexts, it might be paired with words related to wine or celebration.

HSK Study Tips

Since 钭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on recognizing it in literature or historical texts where wine is discussed. Understanding its components can help in recognizing similar characters related to containers or vessels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 钭 with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect usage. For example, mixing it up with the character 头 (tóu), which means 'head', can cause significant misunderstandings in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钭

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Etymology of 钭

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A metal 钅 flask 斗; 斗 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 钭

  1. 1The giveawayA metal 钅 flask 斗; 斗 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 钭? 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 钭?

Decomposition of 钭

IDS Structure⿰钅斗
钭Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
斗Dou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 钭?

How to say surname Tou in Chinese

“surname Tou” in Chinese is钭tǒu

The character 钭 (tǒu) refers to a traditional wine flagon, a vessel used for serving or storing wine. It is also a surname in Chinese culture, though less common. In usage, it often appears in historical contexts or literature related to wine and festivities.

When to use 钭

Be mindful that 钭 is not commonly used in modern everyday conversation and may be found primarily in literature or historical texts. It is also important to know that the pronunciation is crucial; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words. In formal contexts, it might be paired with words related to wine or celebration.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 钭 with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect usage. For example, mixing it up with the character 头 (tóu), which means 'head', can cause significant misunderstandings in context.

Write 钭

钭

Practice writing 钭 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 钭

Words Containing This Character1
钭tǒusurname Tou鈄
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 钭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 钭

In modern Chinese, 钭 primarily refers to a wine flagon and is not a commonly used term.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 钭?

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.