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铣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铣xǐmillvg, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xǐto mill (machining)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xǐshining metalunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xǐTaiwan pr. [xian3]unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xǐ(old) the 16th of the month (abbreviation used in telegrams)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xiǎnmillvg, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xiǎnto mill (machining)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xiǎnshining metalunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xiǎnTaiwan pr. [xian3]unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
铣xiǎn(old) the 16th of the month (abbreviation used in telegrams)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #85031, Very Hard
xǐ(xi3)
primary
T3
  1. 1mill
  2. 2to mill (machining)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铣(銑)xǐ(xi3)

The character 铣 (xǐ) primarily refers to the process of milling, especially in machining contexts where materials are shaped and cut. It can also denote 'shining metal,' reflecting the character's association with metalwork. In historical contexts, it serves as an abbreviation for the 16th day of the month in telegrams, showcasing its versatility.

Strokes11Radical钅Frequency#85031DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese craftsmanship, the milling process is vital in traditional metalwork and modern manufacturing, symbolizing precision and skill. This reflects the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese culture, where meticulous work is highly valued.

Memory Tip

Think of 铣 (xǐ) as a shiny metal tool in a machine shop, where the 'metal' radical (金) represents the material being milled. Imagine a milling machine cutting through a shiny metal piece, producing sparks that shine bright, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 铣

xǐ(xi3)
primary
1mill
2to mill (machining)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铣

铣Simplified
銑Traditional
11Strokes
钅Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铣

JasonAmy

Podcast: 铣

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 铣

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 铣 (xǐ) with similar-sounding words. It’s mostly used in technical or formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. The correct collocation would be in phrases like '铣床' (milling machine) or '铣刀' (milling cutter).

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the official HSK list, 铣 (xǐ) connects to vocabulary related to manufacturing and technology. Focus on understanding its use in technical discussions and how it relates to other machinery and metalworking terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铣 (xǐ) with similar-sounding words like 喜 (xǐ, meaning 'to like'). For example, saying '我喜欢铣' (I like to mill) instead of using it in a context related to machining can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铣

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Etymology of 铣

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)钅
+
Phonetic (sound)先
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铣

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half先 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 铣? 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 铣?

Decomposition of 铣

IDS Structure⿰钅先
铣Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
先xian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铣?

How to say mill in Chinese

“mill” in Chinese is铣xǐ

The character 铣 (xǐ) primarily refers to the process of milling, especially in machining contexts where materials are shaped and cut. It can also denote 'shining metal,' reflecting the character's association with metalwork. In historical contexts, it serves as an abbreviation for the 16th day of the month in telegrams, showcasing its versatility.

When to use 铣

Common mistakes include confusing 铣 (xǐ) with similar-sounding words. It’s mostly used in technical or formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. The correct collocation would be in phrases like '铣床' (milling machine) or '铣刀' (milling cutter).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铣 (xǐ) with similar-sounding words like 喜 (xǐ, meaning 'to like'). For example, saying '我喜欢铣' (I like to mill) instead of using it in a context related to machining can lead to confusion.

Write 铣

铣

Practice writing 铣 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 铣

Words Containing This Character4
铣xǐto mill (machining)銑
铣床milling machine銑床
铣工milling (machining)銑工
铣铁cast iron銑鐵
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 铣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铣

It is pronounced as 'xǐ' with a falling tone. Make sure to emphasize the tone when saying it.

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