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拳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
拳
quán
fist
HSK 7, zg, 10 strokes, radical 手, rank #1897, Very Hard
拳
quán
boxing
HSK 7, zg, 10 strokes, radical 手, rank #1897, Very Hard
拳
quán
fist; various forms of boxing
HSK 7, zg, 10 strokes, radical 手, rank #1897, Very Hard
quán(quan2)quan T2
1fist
2boxing
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March 24, 2026
拳quán(quan2)
The character 拳 (quán) primarily means 'fist' and is commonly used in contexts related to martial arts, boxing, or any activity involving striking with the hands. It can also refer to various forms of boxing or combat sports, emphasizing the physicality and strength associated with the fist.
Strokes10Radical手Frequency#1897DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, martial arts are highly regarded, with traditional styles often incorporating the concept of 拳 (fist) in their name, reflecting the importance of physical discipline and self-defense.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong fist (拳) punching through a wall. The character consists of the hand radical (扌) on the left, symbolizing 'hand,' and the right part (quán) sounds like 'kwan,' which you can think of as a boxing gym where people practice with their fists.
Meanings of 拳
quán(quan2)
1fist
2boxing
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 拳
拳Simplified
10Strokes
手Radical
状态词zgnv (stat.)Part of Speech
#1897Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 拳
Podcast: 拳
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AI study notes for 拳
Quick Contrast
拳 (quán) vs 手 (shǒu) — use 拳 specifically for 'fist' in striking contexts, while 手 refers to 'hand' in a broader sense.
Usage Notes
Fist (拳) is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions of martial arts. Students should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters that refer to other forms of fighting or sports. Common collocations include 拳击 (quánjī, boxing) and 拳法 (quánfǎ, boxing technique).
HSK Study Tips
Although 拳 (quán) is not an HSK word, it connects to vocabulary related to sports and physical activities that may appear in HSK levels 3-5, such as 打 (dǎ, to hit) and 武术 (wǔshù, martial arts). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in context and related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 拳 (quán) with 拳头 (quántóu), which specifically means 'fist' as a body part rather than the broader concept of boxing. A common error is using 拳 when referring to other forms of fighting, such as in 'karate' or 'taekwondo,' which have their own specific terms.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拳
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Learning Lab
Knowing 拳 is seven skills, not one.
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拳 = 手 + 龹. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 拳
IDS Structure⿱龹手
拳Full character
=
龹quan3
top
手shou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 拳?
How to say fist in Chinese
“fist” in Chinese is拳quán
The character 拳 (quán) primarily means 'fist' and is commonly used in contexts related to martial arts, boxing, or any activity involving striking with the hands. It can also refer to various forms of boxing or combat sports, emphasizing the physicality and strength associated with the fist.
When to use 拳
Fist (拳) is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions of martial arts. Students should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters that refer to other forms of fighting or sports. Common collocations include 拳击 (quánjī, boxing) and 拳法 (quánfǎ, boxing technique).
拳 or something close to it
拳 (quán) vs 手 (shǒu) — use 拳 specifically for 'fist' in striking contexts, while 手 refers to 'hand' in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拳 (quán) with 拳头 (quántóu), which specifically means 'fist' as a body part rather than the broader concept of boxing. A common error is using 拳 when referring to other forms of fighting, such as in 'karate' or 'taekwondo,' which have their own specific terms.
Write 拳
拳
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Practice writing 拳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 拳
拳 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
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拳 (quán) is used in various contexts, including physical combat, sports, and idiomatic expressions. It may refer to boxing styles, martial arts techniques, or even be used metaphorically to describe strength or aggression. Understanding its usage can enhance your comprehension of Chinese martial arts vocabulary.
Yes, 拳 (quán) appears in several common phrases in Chinese, such as '拳击' (quánjī), meaning 'boxing.' It can also be found in idioms that convey strength or fighting spirit. Learning these phrases can help you understand cultural references related to martial arts.
拳 (quán) means 'fist' in Chinese and is often used in the context of boxing or martial arts. It can refer to the physical fist itself or the action of striking with a fist. Additionally, it is associated with various forms of boxing, indicating its cultural significance in combat sports.
You can use 拳 (quán) in sentences to describe actions involving a fist or boxing. For example, '他用拳打了对手' (Tā yòng quán dǎle duìshǒu) means 'He hit his opponent with a fist.' This demonstrates its use in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
It is pronounced as 'quán' with a rising tone.
Yes, it can refer to general fighting or physical confrontation, not limited to formal martial arts.
Common phrases include 拳击 (quánjī, boxing) and 拳头 (quántóu, fist).
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