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镌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镌juānengraving tool; to carve, to engravezg, 15 strokes, radical 钅
镌juānto engrave (on wood or stone)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 钅
镌juānto inscribeunknown, 15 strokes, radical 钅
juān(juan1) T1
  1. 1engraving tool; to carve, to engrave
  2. 2to engrave (on wood or stone)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

镌(鐫)juān(juan1)

The character 镌 (juān) refers to the act of engraving or carving, particularly on materials like wood or stone. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship, artistry, and the creation of inscriptions. The nuance of this word suggests precision and care in the engraving process.

Strokes15Radical钅
Cultural Note

Engraving is a traditional craft in Chinese culture, often seen in the creation of seals and stone inscriptions that convey important messages or artistic expressions. The practice has historical significance, linking back to ancient Chinese calligraphy and artistry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a skilled artisan using a special tool to engrave beautiful designs on a stone tablet. The character 镌 has the radical for 'metal' (金), which links to the tools used in engraving, and the 'carving' aspect suggests careful artistry. Picture the tool ‘juān’ being used to create lasting memories.

Meanings of 镌

juān(juan1)
1engraving tool; to carve, to engrave
2to engrave (on wood or stone)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 镌

镌Simplified
鐫Traditional
15Strokes
钅Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镌

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Podcast: 镌

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AI Study Notes for 镌

Quick Contrast

刻 (kè) - Use 镌 (juān) when emphasizing the artistry and precision in engraving, while 刻 (kè) is more general and can refer to carving without the same artistic connotation.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 镌 with similar characters like 刻 (kè), which also means to carve but can imply a broader range of cutting actions. 镌 is more specific to engraving with a tool. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as art descriptions or historical documents.

HSK Study Tips

Although 镌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners interested in arts and crafts terminology. Associating it with other words related to carving (like 刻) can enhance understanding of the nuances between them.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 镌 incorrectly in casual conversations, where 刻 (kè) might be more appropriate for everyday carving. For example, saying '我想要在木头上镌' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zài mùtóu shàng juān) is incorrect; instead, use 刻: '我想要在木头上刻'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镌

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Etymology of 镌

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 镌

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half隽 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 镌? 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 镌?

Decomposition of 镌

IDS Structure⿰钅隽
镌Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
隽Juan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镌?

How to say engraving tool; to carve, to engrave in Chinese

“engraving tool; to carve, to engrave” in Chinese is镌juān

The character 镌 (juān) refers to the act of engraving or carving, particularly on materials like wood or stone. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship, artistry, and the creation of inscriptions. The nuance of this word suggests precision and care in the engraving process.

When to use 镌

Learners often confuse 镌 with similar characters like 刻 (kè), which also means to carve but can imply a broader range of cutting actions. 镌 is more specific to engraving with a tool. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as art descriptions or historical documents.

镌 or something close to it

刻 (kè) - Use 镌 (juān) when emphasizing the artistry and precision in engraving, while 刻 (kè) is more general and can refer to carving without the same artistic connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes use 镌 incorrectly in casual conversations, where 刻 (kè) might be more appropriate for everyday carving. For example, saying '我想要在木头上镌' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zài mùtóu shàng juān) is incorrect; instead, use 刻: '我想要在木头上刻'.

Write 镌

镌

Practice writing 镌 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 镌

Words Containing This Character4
镌刻to engrave鐫刻
镌juānto inscribe鐫
镌镂to engrave鐫鏤
雕镌to carve雕鐫
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 镌刻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镌

It can refer to engraving on various materials, but is most commonly associated with wood and stone.

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