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铫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铫yáohoe; spear; surnameg, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫yáopan with a long handleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫yáosurname Yaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàohoe; spear; surnameg, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàopan with a long handleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
铫diàosurname Yaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅
diào(diao4)diao
primary
T4
  1. 1hoe; spear; surname
  2. 2pan with a long handle
Also a Chinese surname, Yao — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铫(銚)diào(diao4)

The character 铫 (diào) primarily refers to a type of tool, specifically a hoe or a pan with a long handle, commonly used in agricultural or cooking contexts. In addition to its usage as a noun, it can also be a surname, particularly the surname Yao. This character conveys a sense of utility and craftsmanship in traditional Chinese life.

Strokes11Radical钅
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, tools like the hoe are crucial for farming, which plays a significant role in the agrarian lifestyle. The character reflects the importance of agriculture in Chinese history and daily life.

Memory tip

Imagine a farmer using a long-handled tool (the hoe) to dig into the earth while shouting 'diào!' This visual helps connect the sound to the action of using the tool. The character's components, 钅 (metal) and 夭 (young), can remind you of the sturdy metal tool that aids young plants in growing.

Meanings of 铫

diào(diao4)
primary
1hoe; spear; surname
2pan with a long handle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 铫

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

Podcast: 铫

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Podcast: 铫

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AI study notes for 铫

Usage Notes

When using 铫 in conversation, it’s important to clarify the context, as it can refer to different tools or even a surname. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal settings when discussing tools.

HSK Study Tips

While 铫 is not directly included in HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 3 and above to recognize it when discussing agricultural tools or cooking. Focus on understanding its components and related vocabulary to expand your language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铫 with 锹 (shāo, shovel), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 铫 specifically denotes a hoe or a long-handled pan, not a shovel.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铫

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Etymology of 铫

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

metal

Semantic (meaning)钅
+
Phonetic (sound)兆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

铫 = 钅 + 兆. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 铫

IDS Structure⿰钅兆
铫Full character
=
钅jin1
left
兆Zhao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 铫?

How to say hoe; spear; surname in Chinese

“hoe; spear; surname” in Chinese is铫yáo

The character 铫 (diào) primarily refers to a type of tool, specifically a hoe or a pan with a long handle, commonly used in agricultural or cooking contexts. In addition to its usage as a noun, it can also be a surname, particularly the surname Yao. This character conveys a sense of utility and craftsmanship in traditional Chinese life.

When to use 铫

When using 铫 in conversation, it’s important to clarify the context, as it can refer to different tools or even a surname. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal settings when discussing tools.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铫 with 锹 (shāo, shovel), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 铫 specifically denotes a hoe or a long-handled pan, not a shovel.

Write 铫

铫

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

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Word Family of 铫

Words containing this character1
铫diàosurname Yao銚

Frequently asked questions about 铫

铫 specifically refers to a hoe or a pan with a long handle, while other tools have different shapes and uses.

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