Meanings of 鑽
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About 鑽
Podcast: 鑽
Podcast: 鑽
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AI Study Notes for 鑽
Be mindful that 鑽 can have different connotations based on context. In informal settings, it might refer to drilling in a casual sense, while in formal settings, it could indicate the precision of diamond drilling. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 磨 (mó), which means 'to grind' rather than 'to drill.'
Although 鑽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of related words, such as 鑽石 (zuānshí - diamond) and 鑽孔 (zuānkǒng - to drill a hole). Focus on the character's components and related terms to build a more robust vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 鑽 with the character 錐 (zhuī), which means 'awl' or 'sharp tool for boring.' Make sure to use 鑽 when discussing diamonds or the action of drilling, and not 錐.
Pronunciation of 鑽
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Etymology of 鑽
Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鑽.
metal
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鑽
Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鑽.
- 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half贊 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymetal
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鑽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鑽
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How to say diamond; to bore, to drill, to pierce in Chinese
“diamond; to bore, to drill, to pierce” in Chinese is鑽
The character 鑽 (zuān) primarily means 'diamond' and also conveys the action of 'to bore,' 'to drill,' or 'to pierce.' In the context of gemstones, it refers to the precious stone known for its hardness and brilliance. Additionally, it can describe the action of drilling through materials, often used in both everyday and technical contexts.
When to use 鑽
Be mindful that 鑽 can have different connotations based on context. In informal settings, it might refer to drilling in a casual sense, while in formal settings, it could indicate the precision of diamond drilling. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 磨 (mó), which means 'to grind' rather than 'to drill.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 鑽 with the character 錐 (zhuī), which means 'awl' or 'sharp tool for boring.' Make sure to use 鑽 when discussing diamonds or the action of drilling, and not 錐.
Write 鑽
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Practice writing 鑽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 鑽
Compound Meaning
What does 钻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鑽
鑽 (zuān) means 'to drill' or refers to diamonds, while 磨 (mó) means 'to grind.' They refer to different actions and should not be confused.
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