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筷子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
筷子kuàizichopsticksHSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #12226, Medium
kuàizi(kuai4zi5) T4
  1. 1chopsticks
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March 24, 2026

筷子kuàizi(kuai4zi5)

筷子 (kuài zi) refers to a pair of chopsticks used predominantly in Chinese cuisine for eating. They are typically made from wood, bamboo, or plastic and are an essential utensil in many East Asian cultures, representing both practicality and tradition in dining.

Strokes16Frequency#12226DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, chopsticks symbolize harmony and balance, as they work together to pick up food. They also reflect the importance of communal dining, where sharing food is a common practice.

Memory Tip

Imagine two quick (快) sticks (子) that you use to pick up food. Visualize a pair of chopsticks moving rapidly to grab delicious pieces of sushi, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 筷子

kuàizi(kuai4zi5)
1chopsticks
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 筷子

筷子Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12226Frequency Rank
对Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 筷子

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Podcast: 筷子

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AI Study Notes for 筷子

Usage Notes

Be careful with the pronunciation of 'kuài' (快) and 'zi' (子), as mispronouncing can confuse it with other words. The term is informal, so you can use it in everyday conversations about food. Common collocations include '一双筷子' (a pair of chopsticks).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 word, 筷子 connects with other food-related vocabulary at this level, such as 食物 (shí wù - food) and 饭 (fàn - rice/meal). Focus on using it in context when discussing meals or dining experiences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 筷子 with other utensils like 叉 (fork) or 勺 (spoon). Remember that 筷子 specifically refers to chopsticks, while the others denote different eating tools.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 筷子

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Component Characters

筷kuàichopstick
13 strokes⺮
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say chopsticks in Chinese

“chopsticks” in Chinese is筷子kuàizi

筷子 (kuài zi) refers to a pair of chopsticks used predominantly in Chinese cuisine for eating. They are typically made from wood, bamboo, or plastic and are an essential utensil in many East Asian cultures, representing both practicality and tradition in dining.

When to use 筷子

Be careful with the pronunciation of 'kuài' (快) and 'zi' (子), as mispronouncing can confuse it with other words. The term is informal, so you can use it in everyday conversations about food. Common collocations include '一双筷子' (a pair of chopsticks).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 筷子 with other utensils like 叉 (fork) or 勺 (spoon). Remember that 筷子 specifically refers to chopsticks, while the others denote different eating tools.

Write 筷子

筷
子

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 筷子

筷子 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____不能那样拿。

You can't hold chopsticks like that.

Example Sentences for 筷子 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
在桌上有些盘子 、 碗和筷子.

zài zhuō shàng yǒu xiē pán zǐ、 、 wǎn hé kuài.

There are some plates, bowls and chopsticks on the table.
2
(桌上)有一些盘子 、 碗和筷子.

( ( zhuō) shàng ) yǒu yī xiē、 pán zǐ 、 wǎn.

There are some plates, bowls and chopsticks.
3
你会用筷子吃饭吗?

Nǐ huì yòng kuàizi chīfàn ma?

Can you use chopsticks to eat?
4
服务员,请给我一双筷子。

Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ yī shuāng kuàizi.

Waiter, please give me a pair of chopsticks.
5
中国人通常用筷子吃饭,这是一种传统。

Zhōngguó rén tōngcháng yòng kuàizi chīfàn, zhè shì yī zhǒng chuántǒng.

Chinese people usually use chopsticks to eat, it's a tradition.
6
如果你不习惯用筷子,可以用叉子。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xíguàn yòng kuàizi, kěyǐ yòng chāzi.

If you're not used to using chopsticks, you can use a fork.
7
在吃面条的时候,我喜欢用筷子,因为比较方便。

Zài chī miàntiáo de shíhòu, wǒ xǐhuān yòng kuàizi, yīnwèi bǐjiào fāngbiàn.

When eating noodles, I like to use chopsticks because it's more convenient.
8
这家餐馆提供一次性筷子,对于环保人士来说不太好。

Zhè jiā cānguǎn tígōng yīcìxìng kuàizi, duìyú huánbǎo rénshì lái shuō bù tài hǎo.

This restaurant provides disposable chopsticks, which is not great for environmentalists.
9
她用筷子夹起一块豆腐,动作非常熟练。

Tā yòng kuàizi jiā qǐ yī kuài dòufu, dòngzuò fēicháng shúliàn.

She picked up a piece of tofu with chopsticks, her movements very skillful.
10
在东南亚的许多国家,人们也常常用筷子进餐。

Zài dōngnán yà de xǔduō guójiā, rénmen yě chángcháng yòng kuàizi jìncān.

In many Southeast Asian countries, people also often use chopsticks for meals.

Frequently Asked Questions about 筷子

Hold the top chopstick like a pencil, while the bottom one remains stationary, using it to grip food.

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