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槍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
qiānggun, rife; lance, spearzg, 14 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
qiāng(qiang1) T1
  1. 1gun, rife; lance, spear
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

qiāng(qiang1)

The character 槍 (qiāng) primarily refers to a gun or firearm, but it can also denote a spear or lance in a more historical context. It is often used in discussions about weapons, military contexts, or sports involving shooting.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about firearms can be sensitive due to historical events related to warfare and national security. The concept of guns in modern society is often linked to debates about safety and control.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sharp spear (槍) pointing straight ahead. The character’s radical 木 (wood) suggests that it can be made of wood, like traditional spears, while the sound 'qiāng' can remind you of the sharpness of a gun or spear's tip.

Meanings of 槍

qiāng(qiang1)
1gun, rife; lance, spear
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 槍

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 槍

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AI Study Notes for 槍

Quick Contrast

枪 (qiāng) vs 枪械 (qiāngxiè) — use 槍 for general references to guns or firearms, while 枪械 specifically refers to firearms as a category or class.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sharp spear (槍) pointing straight ahead. The character’s radical 木 (wood) suggests that it can be made of wood, like traditional spears, while the sound 'qiāng' can remind you of the sharpness of a gun or spear's tip.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tonal pronunciation: qiāng (first tone) refers to a gun, while a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other words. This term is more formal and is often used in news reports or military discussions. Common collocations include '槍械' (firearms) and '手槍' (handgun).

HSK Study Tips

While 槍 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3-4 vocabulary related to weapons and military terms. Students should focus on pronunciation and the context of use in modern language.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about firearms can be sensitive due to historical events related to warfare and national security. The concept of guns in modern society is often linked to debates about safety and control.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 槍 (qiāng) with similar sounding words. For example, saying 'qiàng' (incorrect tone) could lead to misunderstanding, as it changes the meaning. Always remember to use the first tone when referring to guns.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 槍

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Etymology of 槍

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 仓 represents the sound. Simplified form of 槍.

Memory Hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 槍?

Decomposition of 槍

IDS Structure⿰木倉
Full Character
=
Mu4
left
cang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 槍?

Write 槍

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 槍

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, discussions about firearms can be sensitive due to historical events related to warfare and national security. The concept of guns in modern society is often linked to debates about safety and control.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of firearms in China is often more regulated and viewed with caution compared to Western countries where gun ownership is more common and culturally accepted.

Word Family of 槍

Words Containing This Character20
qiānggun
开枪kāiqiāngto open fire開槍
手枪shǒuqiāngpistol手槍
枪击to shoot with a gun槍擊
枪支a gun槍支
枪手gunman槍手
步枪rifle步槍
机枪machine gun機槍
枪杀to shoot dead槍殺
枪声crack槍聲
中枪shot中槍
枪口muzzle of a gun槍口
枪毙qiāngbìto shoot dead槍斃
枪战gun battle槍戰
长枪pike長槍
金枪鱼tuna金槍魚
冲锋枪submachine gun衝鋒槍
猎枪hunting gun獵槍
枪械firearm槍械
枪法marksmanship槍法
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 枪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 槍

They are the same character; 槍 is the traditional form while 枪 is the simplified form used in mainland China.