Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
锴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锴kǎihigh-quality irong, 14 strokes, radical 钅
锴kǎihigh quality ironunknown, 14 strokes, radical 钅
kǎi(kai3)kai T3
  1. 1high-quality iron
  2. 2high quality iron
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

锴(鍇)kǎi(kai3)

The character 锴 (kǎi) refers to high-quality iron, often indicating a superior grade of metal used in various applications. It is commonly used in technical contexts related to metallurgy and manufacturing, denoting the quality and durability of materials.

Strokes14Radical钅
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the quality of materials is highly valued, especially in traditional crafts like sword-making, where 锴 symbolizes the importance of using the best iron for durability and strength.

Memory tip

Imagine a knight (the sound 'kǎi' reminds you of 'knight') forging a sword from high-quality iron. The character 锴 has the metal radical 钅 (meaning 'metal') on the left, suggesting its connection to iron, while the right side sounds like the action of 'making' something significant.

Meanings of 锴

kǎi(kai3)
1high-quality iron
2high quality iron
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 锴 means.

About 锴

锴Simplified
鍇Traditional
14Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锴

JasonAmy

Podcast: 锴

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 锴

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 锴 with similar-sounding characters that may have different meanings. This term is more formal and specific to discussions about metallurgy, so it may not be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 锴铁 (high-quality iron).

HSK Study Tips

Although 锴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to other words discussing materials, such as 钢 (steel) or 铁 (iron). Students should focus on recognizing the metal radical 钅 and its implications in quality and durability.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锴 with 铁 (iron) or 钢 (steel), leading to incorrect usage in contexts where quality is specified. For example, saying '我需要铁' (I need iron) instead of '我需要锴' (I need high-quality iron) misses the nuance of quality.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锴

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 锴, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 锴 to you

Let me explain 锴 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 锴 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 锴?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 锴 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 锴

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

metal

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

Origin

锴 = 钅 + 皆. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 锴

IDS Structure⿰钅皆
锴Full character
=
钅jin1
left
皆jie1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 锴?

How to say high-quality iron in Chinese

“high-quality iron” in Chinese is锴kǎi

The character 锴 (kǎi) refers to high-quality iron, often indicating a superior grade of metal used in various applications. It is commonly used in technical contexts related to metallurgy and manufacturing, denoting the quality and durability of materials.

When to use 锴

Be careful not to confuse 锴 with similar-sounding characters that may have different meanings. This term is more formal and specific to discussions about metallurgy, so it may not be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 锴铁 (high-quality iron).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锴 with 铁 (iron) or 钢 (steel), leading to incorrect usage in contexts where quality is specified. For example, saying '我需要铁' (I need iron) instead of '我需要锴' (I need high-quality iron) misses the nuance of quality.

Write 锴

锴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 锴?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 锴

Words containing this character1
锴kǎihigh quality iron鍇

Frequently asked questions about 锴

锴 specifically refers to a high-quality type of iron that is crucial for producing durable and reliable metal products.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 锴?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab