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铗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiátongs, pincers; dagger, swordg, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #81837, Very Hard
jiápincers for use at a fireunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #81837, Very Hard
jiá(jia2) T2
  1. 1tongs, pincers; dagger, sword
  2. 2pincers for use at a fire
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(鋏)jiá(jia2)

The character 铗 (jiá) primarily refers to tools such as tongs or pincers, often used in a kitchen or for handling hot objects. It can also denote a type of weapon like a dagger or sword, emphasizing its dual usage in both practical and martial contexts.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#81837DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, tools like tongs have been essential in cooking and metalwork, symbolizing craftsmanship and the importance of fire in food preparation. The concept of weaponry also ties into historical contexts of martial arts and defense.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant pair of metal pincers holding a sword tightly, emphasizing the grip and control needed. The character 铗 has a metal radical (金) on the left, hinting at its metallic associations, which connects to its meanings of both tools and weapons.

Meanings of 铗

jiá(jia2)
1tongs, pincers; dagger, sword
2pincers for use at a fire
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铗

Simplified
Traditional
11Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铗

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 铗

Quick Contrast

铗 (jiá) vs 钳 (qián) — use 铗 for tools like tongs specifically, while 钳 refers to pliers or similar tools.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant pair of metal pincers holding a sword tightly, emphasizing the grip and control needed. The character 铗 has a metal radical (金) on the left, hinting at its metallic associations, which connects to its meanings of both tools and weapons.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 铗 with similar characters like 钳 (qián), which also refers to tongs but in a different context. This word is more commonly used in informal settings, especially when discussing tools; in formal writing, you might encounter the word for weaponry more often.

HSK Study Tips

While not part of HSK, understanding 铗 can enhance your vocabulary related to tools and weapons. Focus on its components, as knowing the radical can help you decipher related terms in both everyday and specialized contexts.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, tools like tongs have been essential in cooking and metalwork, symbolizing craftsmanship and the importance of fire in food preparation. The concept of weaponry also ties into historical contexts of martial arts and defense.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铗 with other similar-sounding words. For instance, saying '我用铗切水果' (I use tongs to cut fruit) is incorrect; instead, it should be '我用刀切水果' (I use a knife to cut fruit).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铗

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Etymology of 铗

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

Metal 钅 used to grasp 夹 items; 夹 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 铗?

Decomposition of 铗

IDS Structure⿰钅夹
Full Character
=
jin1
left
jia1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铗?

Write 铗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 铗

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, tools like tongs have been essential in cooking and metalwork, symbolizing craftsmanship and the importance of fire in food preparation. The concept of weaponry also ties into historical contexts of martial arts and defense.

Word Family of 铗

Words Containing This Character1
jiásword
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 铗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铗

Some synonyms include 钳 (qián) for tongs or pliers, and 刀 (dāo) for knife, depending on the context.