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铆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铆mǎorivetzg, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #80028, Very Hard
铆mǎoto fasten with rivetsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #80028, Very Hard
铆mǎo(coll.) to exert one's strengthunknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #80028, Very Hard
mǎo(mao3)mao T3
  1. 1rivet
  2. 2to fasten with rivets
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March 24, 2026

铆(鉚)mǎo(mao3)

The character 铆 (mǎo) primarily refers to a 'rivet'—a metal pin used to fasten materials together securely. It can also mean 'to fasten with rivets' in a more technical context, and informally, it can imply 'to exert one's strength' in an effortful manner.

Strokes10Radical钅Frequency#80028DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, riveting was a crucial technique in building structures like bridges and temples, highlighting the importance of strength and durability in Chinese architecture.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong worker named Mao who is riveting two metal sheets together. The character 铆 looks like a person (亻) using a tool (上下) to fasten materials, emphasizing strength and fastening.

Meanings of 铆

mǎo(mao3)
1rivet
2to fasten with rivets
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 铆

铆Simplified
鉚Traditional
10Strokes
钅Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铆

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Podcast: 铆

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AI study notes for 铆

Usage Notes

This character is used mainly in technical contexts dealing with construction or metalwork. Be cautious about the tone; it is pronounced with a third tone (mǎo), which is often mispronounced as the second tone (máo). Collocations include '铆钉' (rivet) and '铆接' (to rivet together).

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the HSK vocabulary, learning 铆 can enhance your understanding of related terms in technical fields. Focus on the radicals and their meanings as they often appear in similar contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铆 (mǎo) with the similar sounding word 毛 (máo), which means 'hair' or 'fur.' Remember that 铆 specifically relates to fastening. A wrong example would be saying '我需要毛来固定这个' (I need hair to fix this), instead use '我需要铆来固定这个' (I need rivets to fix this).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铆

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Etymology of 铆

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

metal

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

Origin

铆 = 钅 + 卯. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 铆

IDS Structure⿰钅卯
铆Full character
=
钅jin1
left
卯mao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 铆?

How to say rivet in Chinese

“rivet” in Chinese is铆mǎo

The character 铆 (mǎo) primarily refers to a 'rivet'—a metal pin used to fasten materials together securely. It can also mean 'to fasten with rivets' in a more technical context, and informally, it can imply 'to exert one's strength' in an effortful manner.

When to use 铆

This character is used mainly in technical contexts dealing with construction or metalwork. Be cautious about the tone; it is pronounced with a third tone (mǎo), which is often mispronounced as the second tone (máo). Collocations include '铆钉' (rivet) and '铆接' (to rivet together).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铆 (mǎo) with the similar sounding word 毛 (máo), which means 'hair' or 'fur.' Remember that 铆 specifically relates to fastening. A wrong example would be saying '我需要毛来固定这个' (I need hair to fix this), instead use '我需要铆来固定这个' (I need rivets to fix this).

Write 铆

铆

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

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Grammar patterns of 铆

铆 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

请把那____钉铆直.

Straighten the rivets, please.

Example sentences for 铆 (2)

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1
请把那铆钉铆直.

qǐng bǎ nà mǎo dìng mǎo zhí.

Straighten the rivets, please.
2
铆工把薄金属板铆在船底上.

mǎo gōng bǎ báo jīnshǔ bǎn mǎo zài chuán de shàng.

The riveter riveted the metal sheets to the ship's bottom.
Exercise 1 of 1

Rebuild it

Rebuild it: “Straighten the rivets, please.”

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Word Family of 铆

Words containing this character4
铆钉rivet鉚釘
铆mǎoto fasten with rivets鉚
铆接riveted joint鉚接
铆钉枪rivet gun鉚釘槍
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 铆

What does 铆钉 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 铆

You might say '这两个金属板需要铆在一起' (These two metal sheets need to be riveted together).

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