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March 24, 2026
鎩shā(sha1)
The character 鎩 (shā) primarily means 'spear' and can also imply 'to injure'. In contexts where it refers to a weapon, it suggests a sharp, piercing object used in combat. The nuance of 'to injure' can extend metaphorically to emotional or social harm, often seen in literary or historical texts.
Strokes18Radical釒Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, weapons like 鎩 were significant in warfare and martial arts, representing power and status. The use of spears in traditional Chinese combat martial arts is a pivotal aspect of cultural heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp spear (鎩) piercing through the air. The character resembles a weapon as it combines the metal radical '金' (indicating something made of metal) with '殺', meaning 'to kill'. Picture a scene where a spear injures someone, connecting the character to both its forms and meaning.
Meanings of 鎩
shā(sha1)
1spear; to injure
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鎩
鎩Simplified
18Strokes
釒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鎩
Podcast: 鎩
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AI Study Notes for 鎩
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sharp spear (鎩) piercing through the air. The character resembles a weapon as it combines the metal radical '金' (indicating something made of metal) with '殺', meaning 'to kill'. Picture a scene where a spear injures someone, connecting the character to both its forms and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 鎩, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with unrelated words. It's often used in formal contexts related to martial discussions or literature. Common collocations include 鎩矛 (spear) and 鎩伤 (to injure).
HSK Study Tips
While 鎩 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding its components can help with other characters related to weapons or injury. Focus on recognizing the metal radical and similar characters at your level, such as 刀 (knife) and 武器 (weapon).
Cultural Note
In ancient China, weapons like 鎩 were significant in warfare and martial arts, representing power and status. The use of spears in traditional Chinese combat martial arts is a pivotal aspect of cultural heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鎩 with similar characters due to the complex structure. For example, they might mistakenly write it as '杀' (shā, to kill) instead of the correct 鎩. Always ensure the metal radical is included in the character.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鎩
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Cultural Notes for 鎩
🏮Cultural insight
In ancient China, weapons like 鎩 were significant in warfare and martial arts, representing power and status. The use of spears in traditional Chinese combat martial arts is a pivotal aspect of cultural heritage.
Word Family of 鎩
Words Containing This Character2
铩羽而归to return in low spirits following a defeat or failure to achieve one's ambitions (idiom)鎩羽而歸
铩shāspear鎩
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 铩羽而归 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鎩
鎩 specifically refers to a spear, while other characters like 刀 (dāo) mean knife and 弓 (gōng) refers to a bow.
You might say '他用鎩来防御' (He used a spear for defense).
While 鎩 is less commonly found in idiomatic expressions, it can appear in literary contexts discussing martial valor.
