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鉗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鉗qiánpincers, pliers, tongs; to compressx, 13 strokes, radical 釒
qián(qian2)qian T2
  1. 1pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress
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March 24, 2026

鉗qián(qian2)

The character 鉗 (qián) refers to tools such as pincers, pliers, or tongs, which are used for gripping or compressing objects. In a broader context, it can imply the action of compressing or squeezing something tightly, often used in mechanical or crafting scenarios.

Strokes13Radical釒
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, tools like 鉗 are essential for metalwork and sculpting, reflecting the importance of precision and skill in Chinese art forms.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant pair of metallic pincers (鉗) squeezing a soft object. The character 鉗 has the metal radical 金 (jin) on the left, reminding you that these tools are often made of metal, and the right side sounds like 'qian,' which can remind you of the action of compressing tightly.

Meanings of 鉗

qián(qian2)
1pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鉗

鉗Simplified
13Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鉗

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Podcast: 鉗

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AI study notes for 鉗

Quick Contrast

钳 (qián, specifically refers to pliers or tongs) vs 夹 (jiā, means to clip or clamp) — use 鉗 when emphasizing gripping tools, while 夹 focuses on the action of clamping.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鉗 with similar sounding words that refer to other tools or actions. It is more formal and specific than general terms for gripping tools. Common collocations include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and use in industrial contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 鉗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your technical vocabulary related to tools. Focus on the radicals and how they combine to form meaning in other words related to machinery or tools.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 鉗 to refer to general gripping tools, while it specifically denotes pincers or pliers. For example, saying '我需要一个鉗' (I need a tool) is vague; instead, say '我需要一个鉗子' (I need a pair of pliers).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鉗

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Etymology of 鉗

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甘 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鉗.

Memory hint

metal

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

Origin

鉗 = 釒 + 甘. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鉗

IDS Structure⿰釒甘
鉗Full character
=
釒jin1
left
甘Gan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鉗?

How to say pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress in Chinese

“pincers, pliers, tongs; to compress” in Chinese is鉗qián

The character 鉗 (qián) refers to tools such as pincers, pliers, or tongs, which are used for gripping or compressing objects. In a broader context, it can imply the action of compressing or squeezing something tightly, often used in mechanical or crafting scenarios.

When to use 鉗

Learners often confuse 鉗 with similar sounding words that refer to other tools or actions. It is more formal and specific than general terms for gripping tools. Common collocations include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and use in industrial contexts.

鉗 or something close to it

钳 (qián, specifically refers to pliers or tongs) vs 夹 (jiā, means to clip or clamp) — use 鉗 when emphasizing gripping tools, while 夹 focuses on the action of clamping.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 鉗 to refer to general gripping tools, while it specifically denotes pincers or pliers. For example, saying '我需要一个鉗' (I need a tool) is vague; instead, say '我需要一个鉗子' (I need a pair of pliers).

Write 鉗

鉗

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

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Word Family of 鉗

Words containing this character8
钳qiánpincers鉗
钳子qiánzipliers鉗子
钳工qiángōngfitter鉗工
钳制qiánzhìto suppress鉗制
老虎钳lǎohǔqiánvise老虎鉗
火钳huǒqiánfire tongs火鉗
产钳chǎnqiánobstetric forceps產鉗
虎钳hǔqiánvise虎鉗
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 鉗

What does 钳 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鉗

Related words include 鉗子 (qiánzi - pliers) and other tool-related terms that share the metal radical.

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