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March 24, 2026
鋼gāng(gang1)
The character 鋼 (gāng) refers to 'steel,' a strong and durable material widely used in construction and manufacturing. It also conveys the idea of hardness or toughness, often used metaphorically to describe someone's character or resilience in various contexts.
Strokes16Radical釒Frequency#57307DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, steel (鋼) symbolizes strength and resilience, often associated with traditional values of hard work and determination. It is also a crucial material in modern industry, reflecting China's rapid economic development.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong, shiny sword made of steel (鋼) slicing through the air. The character has a metal radical (金) on the left, indicating its connection to metals, and '刚' (gāng) on the right, which sounds like 'gāng' and means hard or tough.
Meanings of 鋼
gāng(gang1)
1steel; hard, strong, tough
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鋼
鋼Simplified
16Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鋼
Podcast: 鋼
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AI Study Notes for 鋼
Quick Contrast
铁 (tiě) - use 鋼 (gāng) when referring to steel specifically, which is a refined form of iron, while 铁 (tiě) refers to iron in general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong, shiny sword made of steel (鋼) slicing through the air. The character has a metal radical (金) on the left, indicating its connection to metals, and '刚' (gāng) on the right, which sounds like 'gāng' and means hard or tough.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鋼 (gāng) with 鋼琴 (gāngqín), which means piano, as the context can easily lead to misunderstandings. It's generally used in both formal and informal settings, but is more common in technical discussions about materials.
HSK Study Tips
While 鋼 (gāng) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words such as 强 (qiáng, strong) and 硬 (yìng, hard). Students should focus on recognizing its uses in context and its relationship to other material-related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, steel (鋼) symbolizes strength and resilience, often associated with traditional values of hard work and determination. It is also a crucial material in modern industry, reflecting China's rapid economic development.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鋼 (gāng) with the similar-sounding 刚 (gāng), which means 'just' or 'firm.' For example, saying '我需要刚材料' (wǒ xūyào gāng cáiliào) instead of '我需要钢材料' (wǒ xūyào gāng cáiliào) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鋼
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Cultural Notes for 鋼
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, steel (鋼) symbolizes strength and resilience, often associated with traditional values of hard work and determination. It is also a crucial material in modern industry, reflecting China's rapid economic development.
Word Family of 鋼
Words Containing This Character20
钢琴gāngqínpiano鋼琴
钢gāngsteel鋼
钢铁gāngtiěsteel鋼鐵
钢笔gāngbǐfountain pen鋼筆
钢材steel (as raw material)鋼材
不锈钢stainless steel不銹鋼
钢筋steel reinforcing bar鋼筋
钢板steel plate鋼板
钢管steel pipe鋼管
宝钢Baosteel, China's largest steel maker寶鋼
钢丝steel wire鋼絲
钢琴家pianist鋼琴家
钢琴师pianist鋼琴師
炼钢steelmaking煉鋼
走钢丝to walk a tightrope (literally or figuratively)走鋼絲
钢厂a steelworks鋼廠
钢盔metal helmet鋼盔
钢刀sword鋼刀
钢珠steel ball鋼珠
宝钢集团Baosteel, China's largest steel maker寶鋼集團
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 钢琴 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鋼
鋼 (gāng) is steel, an alloy that is stronger than 铁 (tiě), which refers to iron. Steel has different applications due to its durability.
Yes, 鋼 can be metaphorically used to describe someone as tough or strong-willed.
