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砬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
砬láboulder; obeliskn, 10 strokes, radical 石
砬láa huge boulderunknown, 10 strokes, radical 石
砬láa towering rockunknown, 10 strokes, radical 石
lá(la2) T2
  1. 1boulder; obelisk
  2. 2a huge boulder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

砬lá(la2)

The character 砬 (lá) refers to a large, solid rock or boulder, often implying something that is monumental or imposing. It can also be used in contexts where something stands tall or is significant in size. Commonly, it may be used in geological descriptions or metaphorically to denote strength and stability.

Strokes10Radical石
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, large boulders often symbolize stability and permanence, reflecting traditional values of strength and endurance. They can also be found in famous landscapes, showcasing the beauty of nature in Chinese art and poetry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant rock (砬) that looks like a tall tower. The character has a stone radical (石), which gives it the meaning of rock, combined with the idea of 'standing tall' like a tower, helping you remember both its form and meaning.

Meanings of 砬

lá(la2)
1boulder; obelisk
2a huge boulder
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 砬

砬Simplified
10Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 砬

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Podcast: 砬

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AI Study Notes for 砬

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 砬 with similar characters, such as 岩 (yán), which also refers to rocks but implies a different context (like rock formations). This term is quite formal and typically used in literary or scientific contexts. Pay attention to the tone; the word is pronounced with a rising tone (lá).

HSK Study Tips

While 砬 is not an HSK listed word, it connects to the HSK vocabulary related to nature and geography. Focus on associating it with words like 山 (shān - mountain) and 岩 (yán - rock) to enhance your understanding of geological terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 砬 with 砰 (pēng), which refers to a sound or impact. Make sure to remember that 砬 specifically denotes a type of rock, not a sound, to avoid using it incorrectly in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 砬

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Etymology of 砬

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A large standing 立 stone 石; 立 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 砬

  1. 1The giveawayA large standing 立 stone 石; 立 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 砬? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 砬?

Decomposition of 砬

IDS Structure⿰石立
砬Full Character
=
石dan4
left
立Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 砬?

How to say boulder; obelisk in Chinese

“boulder; obelisk” in Chinese is砬lá

The character 砬 (lá) refers to a large, solid rock or boulder, often implying something that is monumental or imposing. It can also be used in contexts where something stands tall or is significant in size. Commonly, it may be used in geological descriptions or metaphorically to denote strength and stability.

When to use 砬

Learners often confuse 砬 with similar characters, such as 岩 (yán), which also refers to rocks but implies a different context (like rock formations). This term is quite formal and typically used in literary or scientific contexts. Pay attention to the tone; the word is pronounced with a rising tone (lá).

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 砬 with 砰 (pēng), which refers to a sound or impact. Make sure to remember that 砬 specifically denotes a type of rock, not a sound, to avoid using it incorrectly in context.

Write 砬

砬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 砬

Words Containing This Character1
砬láa huge boulder
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 砬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 砬

It is pronounced as 'lá' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

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