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镩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镩cuāniron, pick, pokerx, 17 strokes, radical 钅
cuān(cuan1) T1
  1. 1iron, pick, poker
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

镩(鑹)cuān(cuan1)

The character 镩 (cuān) refers to a type of metal tool, specifically a pick or poker used for digging or breaking up hard surfaces. It is commonly used in contexts related to construction or mining, where tools are essential for manual labor. The character emphasizes the strength and utility of iron tools in these industries.

Strokes17Radical钅
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, tools like 镩 were vital for agriculture and construction, reflecting the importance of manual labor in Chinese history. The use of metal tools is celebrated in many cultural artifacts and practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong iron pick (镩) breaking through tough ground—the radical 钅 (metal) reminds you that it is made of iron, while 'cuān' sounds like 'swan,' which can help you visualize a graceful yet strong tool slicing through dirt.

Meanings of 镩

cuān(cuan1)
1iron, pick, poker
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 镩

镩Simplified
鑹Traditional
17Strokes
钅Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镩

JasonAmy

Podcast: 镩

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 镩

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 镩 (cuān) with similar-sounding words or characters that pertain to different tools or materials. This character is more common in technical or specialized discussions rather than everyday conversation. It is important to use the correct tone as well, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

Since 镩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners might encounter it in specialized contexts related to trades or engineering. Focus on understanding its components and how it relates to other metal-related terms to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镩 with 镐 (gǎo), which means 'pickaxe.' For example, saying '我用镐去挖' (I use 镩 to dig) is incorrect; it should be '我用镐去挖.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镩

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Etymology of 镩

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 镩

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half窜 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 镩? 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 镩?

Decomposition of 镩

IDS Structure⿰钅窜
镩Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
窜cuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镩?

How to say iron, pick, poker in Chinese

“iron, pick, poker” in Chinese is镩cuān

The character 镩 (cuān) refers to a type of metal tool, specifically a pick or poker used for digging or breaking up hard surfaces. It is commonly used in contexts related to construction or mining, where tools are essential for manual labor. The character emphasizes the strength and utility of iron tools in these industries.

When to use 镩

Be careful not to confuse 镩 (cuān) with similar-sounding words or characters that pertain to different tools or materials. This character is more common in technical or specialized discussions rather than everyday conversation. It is important to use the correct tone as well, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镩 with 镐 (gǎo), which means 'pickaxe.' For example, saying '我用镐去挖' (I use 镩 to dig) is incorrect; it should be '我用镐去挖.'

Write 镩

镩

Practice writing 镩 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 镩

Words Containing This Character2
镩cuānice spud (aka ice chisel) with a pointy tip鑹
冰镩ice spud (aka ice chisel) with a pointy tip冰鑹
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 镩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镩

镩 is primarily used as a pick or poker for digging and breaking hard surfaces.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 镩?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.