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)ke
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
By ear
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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
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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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How Well Do You Know 壳?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 壳 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.
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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
