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镗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镗tāngawl, boring toolo, 16 strokes, radical 钅, rank #54120, Very Hard
镗tāngnoise of drumsunknown, 16 strokes, radical 钅, rank #54120, Very Hard
tāng(tang1)tang T1
  1. 1awl, boring tool
  2. 2noise of drums
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March 24, 2026

镗(鏜)tāng(tang1)

The character 镗 (tāng) primarily refers to an awl or a boring tool used in various crafts and trades. It can also describe the sound made by drums, emphasizing its dual meaning in both physical tools and auditory experiences.

Strokes16Radical钅Frequency#54120DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, tools like the awl (镗) are essential in woodworking and metalworking, reflecting the importance of skilled labor in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'tang' of metal being bored through by a sharp awl. The character 镗 looks like a metal tool (the radical 钅) piercing through material, creating a 'tang' sound like a drum when struck.

Meanings of 镗

tāng(tang1)
1awl, boring tool
2noise of drums
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 镗 means.

About 镗

镗Simplified
鏜Traditional
16Strokes
钅Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镗

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Podcast: 镗

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AI study notes for 镗

Usage Notes

This character is relatively formal and may not appear in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to tools and sounds, and learners should be cautious with the pronunciation tone, as it is a high-level tone (first tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 镗 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be associated with HSK Level 4 terms that relate to tools and sounds. Students should focus on mastering related characters that include the metal radical 钅 for better retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镗 with similar-sounding characters. For example, mixing it up with 糖 (táng, sugar) due to the tone can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember 镗 is 'tāng' with a high-level tone, not 'táng'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镗

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Etymology of 镗

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

metal

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

Origin

镗 = 钅 + 堂. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 镗

IDS Structure⿰钅堂
镗Full character
=
钅jin1
left
堂tang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 镗?

How to say awl, boring tool in Chinese

“awl, boring tool” in Chinese is镗tāng

The character 镗 (tāng) primarily refers to an awl or a boring tool used in various crafts and trades. It can also describe the sound made by drums, emphasizing its dual meaning in both physical tools and auditory experiences.

When to use 镗

This character is relatively formal and may not appear in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to tools and sounds, and learners should be cautious with the pronunciation tone, as it is a high-level tone (first tone).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镗 with similar-sounding characters. For example, mixing it up with 糖 (táng, sugar) due to the tone can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember 镗 is 'tāng' with a high-level tone, not 'táng'.

Write 镗

镗

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

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Word Family of 镗

Words containing this character1
镗tāngnoise of drums鏜

Frequently asked questions about 镗

镗 is mainly used in the context of tools for boring holes in various materials, important in construction and craftsmanship.

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