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镬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镬huòcauldron, large iron potzg, 18 strokes, radical 钅, rank #49215, Very Hard
镬huòwok (dialect)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 钅, rank #49215, Very Hard
镬huòcauldron (old)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 钅, rank #49215, Very Hard
huò(huo4) T4
  1. 1cauldron, large iron pot
  2. 2wok (dialect)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

镬(鑊)huò(huo4)

The character 镬 (huò) refers to a type of large, heavy cooking pot, often made of iron, used for boiling or frying food. In certain dialects, it can also mean 'wok.' Historically, the term has connotations of strength and durability, often associated with traditional cooking methods.

Strokes18Radical钅Frequency#49215DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culinary tradition, the cauldron symbolizes not only cooking but also communal meals and gatherings, reflecting the importance of food in Chinese culture. Traditional dishes often involve cooking techniques that require such pots, highlighting the value placed on shared experiences.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant iron pot (镬) bubbling over a fire, cooking a feast. The character looks like a pot with a lid (the radical 钅 represents metal), and the pronunciation 'huò' sounds like a bubbling sound when food is cooking. Visualize the warmth and aroma of a meal being prepared in this sturdy cauldron.

Meanings of 镬

huò(huo4)
1cauldron, large iron pot
2wok (dialect)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 镬

镬Simplified
鑊Traditional
18Strokes
钅Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镬

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Podcast: 镬

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AI Study Notes for 镬

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 镬 is more commonly used in certain dialects, so in standard Mandarin, a more general word for 'wok' (锅, guō) is often preferred. It may sound too formal in casual conversations, so context matters. Remember that the fourth tone of 'huò' can be easily confused with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 镬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to cooking-related words that may appear in HSK levels 3-5, such as '锅' (guō, pot) and '炒' (chǎo, to stir-fry). Focus on understanding its usage in cooking contexts and its historical significance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镬 (huò) with 锅 (guō) due to similar meanings. For example, saying '我用镬炒菜' (Wǒ yòng huò chǎo cài) is incorrect in standard contexts; instead, use '锅' (Wǒ yòng guō chǎo cài).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镬

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Etymology of 镬

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 镬

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half蒦 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 镬? 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 镬?

Decomposition of 镬

IDS Structure⿰钅蒦
镬Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
蒦huo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镬?

How to say cauldron, large iron pot in Chinese

“cauldron, large iron pot” in Chinese is镬huò

The character 镬 (huò) refers to a type of large, heavy cooking pot, often made of iron, used for boiling or frying food. In certain dialects, it can also mean 'wok.' Historically, the term has connotations of strength and durability, often associated with traditional cooking methods.

When to use 镬

Be mindful that 镬 is more commonly used in certain dialects, so in standard Mandarin, a more general word for 'wok' (锅, guō) is often preferred. It may sound too formal in casual conversations, so context matters. Remember that the fourth tone of 'huò' can be easily confused with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镬 (huò) with 锅 (guō) due to similar meanings. For example, saying '我用镬炒菜' (Wǒ yòng huò chǎo cài) is incorrect in standard contexts; instead, use '锅' (Wǒ yòng guō chǎo cài).

Write 镬

镬

Practice writing 镬 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 镬

Words Containing This Character1
镬huòwok (dialect)鑊
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 镬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镬

镬 (huò) is a specific type of heavy pot or cauldron, while 锅 (guō) is a more general term for 'pot' or 'wok' used in everyday cooking.

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