HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
qiào
carapace
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
qiào
crust (earth's crust etc)
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
qiào
also pr. [ké]
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
qiào
also pr. [ke2]
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
ké
casing, husk, shell
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
ké
carapace
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
ké
crust (earth's crust etc)
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
ké
also pr. [ké]
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
壳
ké
also pr. [ke2]
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 士, rank #7668, Very Hard
ké(ke2)
primary
T2
1casing, husk, shell
2carapace
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March 24, 2026
壳(殼)ké(ke2)
壳 (ké) refers to the outer casing or shell of an object, such as the shell of an egg or the carapace of a turtle. It can also denote a crust, such as the earth's crust, and is used in various contexts to describe protective outer layers or coverings.
Strokes7Radical士Frequency#7668DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shells are often associated with protection and nurturing, as seen in traditional beliefs about eggs being symbolic of new life. The concept of a protective shell resonates with the idea of safeguarding one's family or values.
Memory Tip
Imagine a turtle (the character's structure looks like a turtle's back) hiding inside its shell (壳) for safety. The '亻' on the left suggests a person, reminding you of the protective nature of shells for creatures.
Meanings of 壳
ké(ke2)
primary
1casing, husk, shell
2carapace
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 壳
壳Simplified
殼Traditional
7Strokes
士Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7668Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 壳
Podcast: 壳
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 壳
Quick Contrast
壳 (ké) vs 皮 (pí) — use 壳 for hard outer layers like shells, while 皮 refers to softer, more flexible skins or hides.
Usage Notes
壳 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with 课 (kè), which means 'class' or 'lesson.' Common collocations include 蛋壳 (dànkè) for 'eggshell' and 地壳 (dìkè) for 'earth's crust.'
HSK Study Tips
壳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but it connects well with other HSK words related to nature and objects, such as 水 (shuǐ - water) and 土 (tǔ - earth). Focus on recognizing its usage in compound words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 壳 (ké) with 课 (kè), leading to mistakes in pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我在上壳' (Wǒ zài shàng ké) instead of '我在上课' (Wǒ zài shàng kè - I am attending class) can cause confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 壳
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 壳? 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 壳?
Decomposition of 壳
IDS Structure⿱士冗
壳Full Character
=
士Shi4
top
冗rong3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 壳?
How to say casing, husk, shell in Chinese
“casing, husk, shell” in Chinese is壳qiào
壳 (ké) refers to the outer casing or shell of an object, such as the shell of an egg or the carapace of a turtle. It can also denote a crust, such as the earth's crust, and is used in various contexts to describe protective outer layers or coverings.
When to use 壳
壳 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with 课 (kè), which means 'class' or 'lesson.' Common collocations include 蛋壳 (dànkè) for 'eggshell' and 地壳 (dìkè) for 'earth's crust.'
壳 or something close to it
壳 (ké) vs 皮 (pí) — use 壳 for hard outer layers like shells, while 皮 refers to softer, more flexible skins or hides.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 壳 (ké) with 课 (kè), leading to mistakes in pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我在上壳' (Wǒ zài shàng ké) instead of '我在上课' (Wǒ zài shàng kè - I am attending class) can cause confusion.
Write 壳
壳
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Practice writing 壳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 壳
壳 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
用贝____来装点盒子、托盘、镜子甚至是花盆。
Use shells to decorate boxes, trays, mirrors or even pots.
