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锟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kūna legendary swordg, 13 strokes, radical 钅, Very Hard
kūnsteel swordunknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, Very Hard
kūn(kun1) T1
  1. 1a legendary sword
  2. 2steel sword
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(錕)kūn(kun1)

The character 锟 (kūn) refers to a legendary sword, often associated with strength and valor in Chinese literature. It can also denote a steel sword, symbolizing power and resilience, commonly used in martial arts contexts or in references to historical weaponry.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, swords symbolize not only physical strength but also moral integrity, often referenced in classical literature such as 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The legendary sword represents not just a weapon but a hero's journey.

Memory Tip

Imagine a mighty warrior wielding a shining steel sword (锟) that represents strength and bravery. The radical 钅 (metal) hints at its material, while the rest of the character suggests a sharp, cutting edge, reminiscent of ancient legendary tales.

Meanings of 锟

kūn(kun1)
1a legendary sword
2steel sword
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 锟

Simplified
Traditional
13Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锟

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AI Study Notes for 锟

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a mighty warrior wielding a shining steel sword (锟) that represents strength and bravery. The radical 钅 (metal) hints at its material, while the rest of the character suggests a sharp, cutting edge, reminiscent of ancient legendary tales.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday language and is more likely found in literary contexts or historical references. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as it may be confused with other similar-sounding words in Chinese.

HSK Study Tips

Although 锟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners can connect it to related words about weapons and martial arts, which often appear in HSK levels 4 and above. Focus on understanding the cultural significance of weapons in Chinese history.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, swords symbolize not only physical strength but also moral integrity, often referenced in classical literature such as 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The legendary sword represents not just a weapon but a hero's journey.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锟 with other characters that represent different types of swords or weapons, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 锟 when referring to a common sword like 剑 (jiàn) is incorrect; remember that 锟 denotes a legendary or steel sword.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锟

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Etymology of 锟

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

metal

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 锟?

Decomposition of 锟

IDS Structure⿰钅昆
Full Character
=
jin1
left
kun1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 锟?

Write 锟

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 锟

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, swords symbolize not only physical strength but also moral integrity, often referenced in classical literature such as 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The legendary sword represents not just a weapon but a hero's journey.

Word Family of 锟

Words Containing This Character2
kūnsteel sword
曹锟Cao Kun (1862-1938), one of the Northern Warlords曹錕
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 锟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 锟

No, 锟 is primarily found in literary texts and references to historical contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.