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March 24, 2026
锅(鍋)guō(guo1)
锅 (guō) refers to a pot or pan used for cooking. It can also denote a boiler in some contexts. Commonly used in kitchens, this term encompasses various types of cookware that involve heating food.
Strokes12Radical钅Frequency#5210DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the type of锅 used is essential, as different pots are designed for specific techniques, such as stir-frying or steaming, highlighting the importance of cookware in culinary traditions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, round pot (锅) bubbling over a fire. The character has a radical resembling a 'fire' beneath the 'pot' shape, emphasizing its cooking purpose. Think of 'guō' sounding like 'go,' as in 'go cook something delicious in your pot!'
Meanings of 锅
guō(guo1)
1pot
2pan
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 锅
锅Simplified
鍋Traditional
12Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5210Frequency Rank
口Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 锅
Podcast: 锅
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AI Study Notes for 锅
Quick Contrast
锅 (guō) vs 锅子 (guōzi) — use 锅 for a more formal or general term, while 锅子 is more colloquial and informal.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'guō' is pronounced with the first tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is often used in combination with other characters to specify types of pots, like '炒锅' (chǎoguō) for 'wok'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 锅 connects well with other cooking-related vocabulary like '饭' (fàn, rice) and '菜' (cài, dish). Focus on collocations and common phrases to enhance your cooking vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 锅 with other kitchenware terms, such as '碗' (wǎn, bowl). For example, saying '我用碗煮 soup' (I use a bowl to cook soup) is incorrect; it should be '我用锅煮 soup.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 锅
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2The sound half呙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymetal
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 锅? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 锅?
Decomposition of 锅
IDS Structure⿰钅呙
锅Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
呙Guo1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 锅?
How to say pot in Chinese
“pot” in Chinese is锅guō
锅 (guō) refers to a pot or pan used for cooking. It can also denote a boiler in some contexts. Commonly used in kitchens, this term encompasses various types of cookware that involve heating food.
When to use 锅
Be cautious with the tone; 'guō' is pronounced with the first tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is often used in combination with other characters to specify types of pots, like '炒锅' (chǎoguō) for 'wok'.
锅 or something close to it
锅 (guō) vs 锅子 (guōzi) — use 锅 for a more formal or general term, while 锅子 is more colloquial and informal.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 锅 with other kitchenware terms, such as '碗' (wǎn, bowl). For example, saying '我用碗煮 soup' (I use a bowl to cook soup) is incorrect; it should be '我用锅煮 soup.'
Write 锅
锅
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Practice writing 锅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 锅
锅 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). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
