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March 24, 2026
矿(礦)kuàng(kuang4)
The character 矿 (kuàng) refers to 'ore' or 'mine', typically used in contexts related to mining, geology, and natural resources. It indicates materials that are extracted from the earth, such as metals or minerals, and can be used in both casual and formal discussions about industry and geology.
Strokes8Radical石Frequency#8400DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, mining has played a significant role in economic development, especially in regions rich in minerals like Shanxi and Shaanxi. The character 矿 is often seen in discussions about environmental policies and sustainable mining practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a miner wearing a helmet (the top part of 矿) digging into the earth (the bottom part resembles the ground) to find valuable ores. The sound 'kuàng' can remind you of 'clank', the noise of tools hitting rocks underground.
Meanings of 矿
kuàng(kuang4)
1ore
2mine
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 矿
矿Simplified
礦Traditional
8Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8400Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 矿
Podcast: 矿
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AI Study Notes for 矿
Quick Contrast
矿 (kuàng) vs 矿石 (kuàngshí): 矿 refers to 'ore' or 'mine' in a general sense, while 矿石 specifically means 'ore stone', emphasizing the raw material form.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a miner wearing a helmet (the top part of 矿) digging into the earth (the bottom part resembles the ground) to find valuable ores. The sound 'kuàng' can remind you of 'clank', the noise of tools hitting rocks underground.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 矿 with similar-sounding characters like 光 (guāng), which means 'light'. It is commonly used in formal contexts such as discussions about mining industry regulations, so keep the tone appropriate. Common collocations include 矿石 (kuàngshí), meaning 'ore'.
HSK Study Tips
While 矿 is not currently an HSK vocabulary word, students at HSK 4 and above may encounter it in reading passages about natural resources or industry. Focus on recognizing it in context and understanding its relation to other vocabulary about nature and materials.
Cultural Note
In China, mining has played a significant role in economic development, especially in regions rich in minerals like Shanxi and Shaanxi. The character 矿 is often seen in discussions about environmental policies and sustainable mining practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 矿 with related terms like 矿泉 (kuàngquán, meaning 'spring water'), mistakenly thinking they are the same. Remember that 矿 focuses on ores and mining, while 矿泉 refers to water sources.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 矿
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Grammar Patterns of 矿
矿 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 4 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
铁轨跨过这条河直达____井口。
Across the river the railway track ran up to the pithead.
jìn guǎn kuàng jǐng de ān quán zhuàng kuàng yǒu le hěn dà gǎi shàn， ， kuàng gōng de jiā shǔ réng rán hài pà zuì zāo de qíng kuàng huì fā。
Though mine safety has much improved, miners' families still fear the worst.
Cultural Notes for 矿
🏮Cultural insight
In China, mining has played a significant role in economic development, especially in regions rich in minerals like Shanxi and Shaanxi. The character 矿 is often seen in discussions about environmental policies and sustainable mining practices.
Word Family of 矿
Words Containing This Character20
矿kuàngore礦
煤矿méikuàngcoal mine煤礦
矿工miner礦工
金矿gold mine金礦
矿泉水kuàngquánshuǐmineral spring water礦泉水
矿井a mine礦井
矿山mine礦山
矿石ore礦石
矿物mineral礦物
矿产kuàngchǎnminerals礦產
采矿cǎikuàngmining採礦
矿物质mineral, esp. dietary mineral礦物質
矿业mining industry礦業
矿区mining site礦區
铁矿石iron ore鐵礦石
铁矿iron ore鐵礦
铜矿copper mine銅礦
矿坑mine礦坑
矿泉mineral spring礦泉
厂矿factories and mines廠礦
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 矿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 矿
矿 (kuàng) and 礦 are essentially the same word, with 矿 being the simplified character and 礦 the traditional form. Simplified characters are more commonly used in mainland China, while traditional characters are used in places like Taiwan and Hong Kong.
矿 is pronounced as 'kuàng' in Mandarin. The pronunciation is important as it can affect the meaning of the word in different contexts.
矿 (kuàng) means 'ore' or 'mine' in Chinese. It refers to naturally occurring solid materials that can be extracted for various uses, such as metals and minerals. The character can also indicate a mining location where these ores are found.
You can use 矿 (kuàng) in a sentence like '我们去矿里工作' (Wǒmen qù kuàng lǐ gōngzuò), which means 'We go to work at the mine.' This shows how the character is used in the context of mining activities.
矿 is a simplified character commonly used in Mainland China, while 礦 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
You can use it in a sentence like: '这个地区富含矿' (zhège dìqū fùhán kuàng) meaning 'This area is rich in minerals.'
Common collocations include 矿石 (ore), 矿业 (mining industry), and 矿物 (minerals).
