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铫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铫yáohoe; spear; surnameg, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫yáopan with a long handleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫yáosurname Yaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàohoe; spear; surnameg, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàopan with a long handleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàosurname Yaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
diào(diao4)
primary
T4
  1. 1hoe; spear; surname
  2. 2pan with a long handle
Also a Chinese surname, Yao — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铫(銚)diào(diao4)

The character 铫 (diào) primarily refers to a type of tool, specifically a hoe or a pan with a long handle, commonly used in agricultural or cooking contexts. In addition to its usage as a noun, it can also be a surname, particularly the surname Yao. This character conveys a sense of utility and craftsmanship in traditional Chinese life.

Strokes11Radical钅
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, tools like the hoe are crucial for farming, which plays a significant role in the agrarian lifestyle. The character reflects the importance of agriculture in Chinese history and daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a farmer using a long-handled tool (the hoe) to dig into the earth while shouting 'diào!' This visual helps connect the sound to the action of using the tool. The character's components, 钅 (metal) and 夭 (young), can remind you of the sturdy metal tool that aids young plants in growing.

Meanings of 铫

diào(diao4)
primary
1hoe; spear; surname
2pan with a long handle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铫

铫Simplified
銚Traditional
11Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铫

JasonAmy

Podcast: 铫

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 铫

Usage Notes

When using 铫 in conversation, it’s important to clarify the context, as it can refer to different tools or even a surname. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal settings when discussing tools.

HSK Study Tips

While 铫 is not directly included in HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 3 and above to recognize it when discussing agricultural tools or cooking. Focus on understanding its components and related vocabulary to expand your language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铫 with 锹 (shāo, shovel), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 铫 specifically denotes a hoe or a long-handled pan, not a shovel.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铫

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Etymology of 铫

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

metal

Semantic (meaning)钅
+
Phonetic (sound)兆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铫

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 铫? 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 铫?

Decomposition of 铫

IDS Structure⿰钅兆
铫Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
兆Zhao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铫?

How to say hoe; spear; surname in Chinese

“hoe; spear; surname” in Chinese is铫yáo

The character 铫 (diào) primarily refers to a type of tool, specifically a hoe or a pan with a long handle, commonly used in agricultural or cooking contexts. In addition to its usage as a noun, it can also be a surname, particularly the surname Yao. This character conveys a sense of utility and craftsmanship in traditional Chinese life.

When to use 铫

When using 铫 in conversation, it’s important to clarify the context, as it can refer to different tools or even a surname. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal settings when discussing tools.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铫 with 锹 (shāo, shovel), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 铫 specifically denotes a hoe or a long-handled pan, not a shovel.

Write 铫

铫

Practice writing 铫 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 铫

Words Containing This Character1
铫diàosurname Yao銚
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 铫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铫

铫 specifically refers to a hoe or a pan with a long handle, while other tools have different shapes and uses.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 铫?

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.