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锛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锛bēnadzev, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #88588, Very Hard
锛bēnadzunknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #88588, Very Hard
bēn(ben1) T1
  1. 1adze
  2. 2adz
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

锛(錛)bēn(ben1)

The character 锛 (bēn) refers to a specific type of hand tool known as an adze, which is used for shaping wood, especially in traditional carpentry. It is commonly found in cultural and historical contexts related to woodworking and craftsmanship, particularly in rural and traditional settings in China.

Strokes13Radical钅Frequency#88588DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, traditional woodworking and the use of tools like the adze are integral to craftsmanship and artistic expression, often seen in the making of furniture and architectural elements.

Memory Tip

Imagine a woodworker using an adze to shape a piece of wood into a beautiful sculpture. The character 锛 looks like a tool with a sharp edge, and the 'b' sound in 'bēn' can remind you of the 'b' in 'blade' – both are essential for cutting and shaping.

Meanings of 锛

bēn(ben1)
1adze
2adz
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 锛

锛Simplified
錛Traditional
13Strokes
钅Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锛

JasonAmy

Podcast: 锛

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 锛

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 锛 is a more specialized term and may not be used in everyday conversation. It's often found in discussions about tools, carpentry, or traditional crafts. Ensure to use the correct pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Though 锛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this word can enhance your knowledge of tools and craftsmanship-related terms. Focus on the radical components of the character to better grasp related vocabulary in woodworking.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 锛 with similar tools or terms. For instance, using 锯 (jù, saw) instead of 锛 (bēn) when referring to shaping wood is incorrect; remember that 锛 is specifically for shaping.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锛

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Etymology of 锛

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 锛

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half奔 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 锛? 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 锛?

Decomposition of 锛

IDS Structure⿰钅奔
锛Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
奔ben1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 锛?

How to say adze in Chinese

“adze” in Chinese is锛bēn

The character 锛 (bēn) refers to a specific type of hand tool known as an adze, which is used for shaping wood, especially in traditional carpentry. It is commonly found in cultural and historical contexts related to woodworking and craftsmanship, particularly in rural and traditional settings in China.

When to use 锛

Be mindful that 锛 is a more specialized term and may not be used in everyday conversation. It's often found in discussions about tools, carpentry, or traditional crafts. Ensure to use the correct pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 锛 with similar tools or terms. For instance, using 锯 (jù, saw) instead of 锛 (bēn) when referring to shaping wood is incorrect; remember that 锛 is specifically for shaping.

Write 锛

锛

Practice writing 锛 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 锛

Words Containing This Character1
锛bēnadz錛
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 锛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 锛

锛 specifically refers to an adze, which is used for shaping wood, whereas tools like 锯 (jù, saw) are used for cutting.

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