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盔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
盔
kuī
helmet; bowl, basin
n, 11 strokes, radical 皿, rank #22870, Very Hard
kuī(kui1)kui T1
1helmet; bowl, basin
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March 24, 2026
盔kuī(kui1)
The character 盔 (kuī) primarily means 'helmet,' a protective headgear typically used in combat or certain sports. In broader contexts, it can also refer to a type of bowl or basin. It is commonly associated with safety and protection, both in historical and modern settings.
Strokes11Radical皿Frequency#22870DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In ancient China, helmets were not only functional but also symbolized status and bravery in battle, reflecting the importance of protection in both warfare and cultural identity.
Memory tip
Imagine a warrior wearing a shiny helmet (盔) that looks like a bowl on his head, protecting him from danger. The character has a top part that resembles the outline of a helmet, which helps you recall its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 盔
kuī(kui1)
1helmet; bowl, basin
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 盔 means.
About 盔
盔Simplified
11Strokes
皿Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 盔
Podcast: 盔
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AI study notes for 盔
Usage Notes
While 盔 is often used in formal contexts, such as military or historical discussions, it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 鎧 (kǎi), which also relates to protective gear but specifically refers to armor.
HSK Study Tips
Since 盔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful to connect it with words related to safety or protection, such as 安全 (ānquán). Focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in reading military or historical texts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 盔 interchangeably with other words for headgear like 帽子 (màozi) which means 'hat.' Remember, 盔 specifically refers to helmets, not just any head covering.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 盔
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 盔 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.
盔 = 皿 + 灰. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 盔
IDS Structure⿱灰皿
盔Full character
=
灰hui1
top
皿min3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 盔?
How to say helmet; bowl, basin in Chinese
“helmet; bowl, basin” in Chinese is盔kuī
The character 盔 (kuī) primarily means 'helmet,' a protective headgear typically used in combat or certain sports. In broader contexts, it can also refer to a type of bowl or basin. It is commonly associated with safety and protection, both in historical and modern settings.
When to use 盔
While 盔 is often used in formal contexts, such as military or historical discussions, it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 鎧 (kǎi), which also relates to protective gear but specifically refers to armor.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 盔 interchangeably with other words for headgear like 帽子 (màozi) which means 'hat.' Remember, 盔 specifically refers to helmets, not just any head covering.
Write 盔
盔
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Practice writing 盔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 盔
盔 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
透过地下室的窗户，我看到他正在把他那粉色的自行车头____系在头上。
Through the basement window I saw him strap on his pink cycling helmet.
Example sentences for 盔 (7)
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1
透过地下室的窗户，我看到他正在把他那粉色的自行车头盔系在头上。
tòuguò dìxiàshì de chuānghu， wǒ kàndào tā zhèngzài bǎ tā nà fěnsè de zìxíngchē tóu kuī jì zài tóu shàng。
Through the basement window I saw him strap on his pink cycling helmet.
