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錾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
錾zànchisel, engraving toolv, 16 strokes, radical 金
錾zànto engraveunknown, 16 strokes, radical 金
zàn(zan4) T4
  1. 1chisel, engraving tool
  2. 2to engrave
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

錾(鏨)zàn(zan4)

The character 錾 (zàn) refers to the act of chiseling or engraving, often used in contexts involving craftsmanship or art. It can describe both the tool used for engraving and the action of creating designs or inscriptions on materials such as stone, metal, or wood.

Strokes16Radical金
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, engraving and calligraphy are highly valued art forms, often seen in stone inscriptions or decorative crafts. The skill of 錾ing reflects the meticulous nature of Chinese artistic practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a craftsman using a chisel (錾) that resembles a sharp, pointed tool to carve intricate patterns into stone. The sound 'zàn' can be remembered by associating it with the action of 'zan-ing' or creating beauty through chiseling.

Meanings of 錾

zàn(zan4)
1chisel, engraving tool
2to engrave
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 錾

錾Simplified
鏨Traditional
16Strokes
金Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 錾

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Podcast: 錾

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AI Study Notes for 錾

Quick Contrast

雕 (diāo) - use 錾 (zàn) specifically for chiseling or engraving with a tool, while 雕 (diāo) can refer to carving more broadly, often with a focus on three-dimensional forms.

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in formal contexts related to art or craftsmanship. A common mistake is confusing 錾 with other similar terms like 刻 (kè), which also means to carve but is more general. Pay attention to the tonal pronunciation to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although 錾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding this word can enrich your knowledge of art and craftsmanship terms. Focus on related words like 刻 (kè) for carving and 铭 (míng) for inscribing, which may appear in higher-level studies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 錾 with 刻 (kè), mistakenly using 錾 in contexts that are better suited for 刻. For example, saying '我想用錾刻字' (I want to use a chisel to carve characters) should be corrected to '我想用刻刻字'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 錾

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Etymology of 錾

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

A metal 金 cutting tool 斩; 斩 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 錾

  1. 1The giveawayA metal 金 cutting tool 斩; 斩 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 錾? 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 錾?

Decomposition of 錾

IDS Structure⿱斩金
錾Full Character
=
斩zhan3
top
金Jin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 錾?

How to say chisel, engraving tool in Chinese

“chisel, engraving tool” in Chinese is錾zàn

The character 錾 (zàn) refers to the act of chiseling or engraving, often used in contexts involving craftsmanship or art. It can describe both the tool used for engraving and the action of creating designs or inscriptions on materials such as stone, metal, or wood.

When to use 錾

This term is typically used in formal contexts related to art or craftsmanship. A common mistake is confusing 錾 with other similar terms like 刻 (kè), which also means to carve but is more general. Pay attention to the tonal pronunciation to avoid confusion.

錾 or something close to it

雕 (diāo) - use 錾 (zàn) specifically for chiseling or engraving with a tool, while 雕 (diāo) can refer to carving more broadly, often with a focus on three-dimensional forms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 錾 with 刻 (kè), mistakenly using 錾 in contexts that are better suited for 刻. For example, saying '我想用錾刻字' (I want to use a chisel to carve characters) should be corrected to '我想用刻刻字'.

Write 錾

錾

Practice writing 錾 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 錾

Words Containing This Character2
錾zànto engrave鏨
錾子chisel鏨子
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 錾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 錾

You can use 錾 to engrave various materials, including stone, wood, and metal.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 錾?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.