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March 24, 2026
枪(槍)qiāng(qiang1)
The character 枪 (qiāng) primarily means 'gun' or 'firearm,' and can refer to a variety of projectile weapons, including rifles and spears. It is commonly used in contexts related to military, sports, and law enforcement. Additionally, it can denote objects that have a similar shape or function to a gun.
Strokes8Radical木Frequency#298DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, firearms have a complex history tied to warfare and defense. The character 枪 is also used metaphorically in literature to symbolize power or aggression.
Memory tip
Imagine a soldier holding a gun made of a tree (木) and a spear (枪). The木 (wood) part represents the handle, while the spear tip symbolizes the 'gun' aspect. Picture the soldier shouting 'qiāng!' as he prepares to fire, linking the sound to the character's pronunciation.
Meanings of 枪
qiāng(qiang1)
1gun
2firearm
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 枪
枪Simplified
槍Traditional
8Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#298Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 枪
Podcast: 枪
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AI study notes for 枪
Quick Contrast
步枪 (bùqiāng, rifle) vs 手枪 (shǒuqiāng, handgun) — use 枪 for general reference to firearms, while步枪 specifies a type of long gun and 手枪 specifies a type of sidearm.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing qiāng, as it is a first tone. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters. This word is more commonly used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about firearms and weaponry.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 5 vocabulary, qiāng connects to other words related to weapons and tools, such as 刀 (dāo, knife) and 剑 (jiàn, sword). Students should focus on understanding its various usages and collocations, as well as practicing its pronunciation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 枪 (qiāng) with similar-sounding characters like 羊 (yáng, sheep). For example, saying '我喜欢羊' (wǒ xǐhuān yáng) instead of '我喜欢枪' (wǒ xǐhuān qiāng) can lead to confusion. Always double-check the tones and meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 枪
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枪 = 木 + 仓. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 枪
IDS Structure⿰木仓
枪Full character
=
木Mu4
left
仓cang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 枪?
How to say gun in Chinese
“gun” in Chinese is枪qiāng
The character 枪 (qiāng) primarily means 'gun' or 'firearm,' and can refer to a variety of projectile weapons, including rifles and spears. It is commonly used in contexts related to military, sports, and law enforcement. Additionally, it can denote objects that have a similar shape or function to a gun.
When to use 枪
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing qiāng, as it is a first tone. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters. This word is more commonly used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about firearms and weaponry.
枪 or something close to it
步枪 (bùqiāng, rifle) vs 手枪 (shǒuqiāng, handgun) — use 枪 for general reference to firearms, while步枪 specifies a type of long gun and 手枪 specifies a type of sidearm.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 枪 (qiāng) with similar-sounding characters like 羊 (yáng, sheep). For example, saying '我喜欢羊' (wǒ xǐhuān yáng) instead of '我喜欢枪' (wǒ xǐhuān qiāng) can lead to confusion. Always double-check the tones and meaning.
Write 枪
枪
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Grammar patterns of 枪
枪 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 10 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“给我来份烤金____鱼吧，”玛丽·安告诉侍者。
"I'll take the grilled tuna," Mary Ann told the waiter.
Common confusions with 枪
枪vs强
qiáng
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
枪vs腔
qiāng
Similar pronunciation but different meanings and radicals.
The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
6
他宁愿一枪打死自己也不愿违背自己的原则。
tā nìngyuàn yī qiāng dǎ sǐ zìjǐ yě bù yuàn wéibèi zìjǐ de yuánzé。
He would rather shoot himself than compromise his principles.
7
持枪歹徒不慌不忙地走开，坐上一辆等候的汽车逃走了。
chí qiāng dǎitú bù huāng bù máng dì zǒukāi， zuò shàng yī liàng děnghòu de qìchē táozǒu le。
The gunmen calmly walked away and escaped in a waiting car.
8
他试图爬走时肩膀中枪了。
tā shìtú pá zǒu shí jiānbǎng zhōng qiāng le。
As he tried to crawl away, he was hit in the shoulder.
9
他的车遭遇拦劫，随后他被4名持枪歹徒劫持。
tā de chē zāoyù lán jié， suíhòu tā bèi4 míng chí qiāng dǎitú jiéchí。
His car was held up and he was abducted by four gunmen.
10
格雷厄姆用枪击打他的脸部。
gé léi è mǔ yòng qiāng jī dǎ tā de liǎn bù。
Graham hit him across the face with the gun.
11
在我们的班里，有个同学的姓是枪，他的名字叫枪明。
Zài wǒmen de bān lǐ, yǒu gè tóngxué de xìng shì Qiāng, tā de míngzì jiào Qiāng Míng.
In our class, there is a classmate whose surname is Qiang, and his name is Qiang Ming.
12
枪先生是一位著名的科学家，他在基因研究领域作出了重要贡献。
Qiāng xiānshēng shì yī wèi zhùmíng de kēxuéjiā, tā zài jīyīn yánjiū lǐngyù zuòchū le zhòngyào gòngxiàn.
Mr. Qiang is a renowned scientist who has made significant contributions in the field of genetic research.
13
枪教授邀请我们参加他的生日聚会。
Qiāng jiàoshòu yāoqǐng wǒmen cānjiā tā de shēngrì jùhuì.
Professor Qiang invited us to his birthday party.
14
枪女士在国际会议上发表了一篇重要的演讲。
Qiāng nǚshì zài guójì huìyì shàng fābiǎo le yī piān zhòngyào de yǎnjiǎng.
Ms. Qiang gave an important speech at the international conference.
15
我听说枪同学在数学竞赛中获得了第一名。
Wǒ tīngshuō Qiāng tóngxué zài shùxué jìngsài zhōng huòdé le dì yī míng.
I heard that classmate Qiang won first place in the math competition.
16
枪医生在医院里很有名，他的病人都很信任他。
Qiāng yīshēng zài yīyuàn lǐ hěn yǒumíng, tā de bìngrén dōu hěn xìnrèn tā.
Dr. Qiang is well-known in the hospital, and his patients trust him a lot.
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Cultural Notes for 枪
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of guns often includes discussions about rights and personal freedom, whereas in China, the use of firearms is more strictly regulated and viewed through the lens of public safety.
Word Family of 枪
Words containing this character20
枪qiānggun槍
开枪kāiqiāngto open fire開槍
手枪shǒuqiāngpistol手槍
枪击qiāngjīto shoot with a gun槍擊
枪支qiāngzhīa gun槍支
枪手qiāngshǒugunman槍手
步枪bùqiāngrifle步槍
机枪jīqiāngmachine gun機槍
枪杀qiāngshāto shoot dead槍殺
枪声qiāngshēngcrack槍聲
中枪zhòngqiāngshot中槍
枪口qiāngkǒumuzzle of a gun槍口
枪毙qiāngbìto shoot dead槍斃
枪战qiāngzhàngun battle槍戰
长枪chángqiāngpike長槍
金枪鱼jīnqiāngyútuna金槍魚
冲锋枪chōngfēngqiāngsubmachine gun衝鋒槍
猎枪lièqiānghunting gun獵槍
枪械qiāngxièfirearm槍械
枪法qiāngfǎmarksmanship槍法
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 枪
What does 开枪 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 枪
枪 (qiāng) specifically refers to firearms like guns and rifles, while 武器 (wǔqì) is a broader term that means 'weapons' in general, encompassing all types of weapons including knives, swords, and guns. Understanding this distinction is important for precise communication in conversations about weaponry.
Yes, 枪 (qiāng) can be used in non-literal contexts, such as in idiomatic expressions or metaphors. For instance, it may refer to actions that imply aggression or confrontation, similar to how one might use 'gun' in English to describe a situation or behavior.
枪 (qiāng) primarily means 'firearm' or 'gun' in Chinese. It can also refer to a rifle or a spear. Additionally, it can denote a thing with a shape or function similar to a gun, and in some contexts, it can mean to substitute for another person in a test.
To use 枪 (qiāng) in a sentence, you might say '他有一把枪' (tā yǒu yī bǎ qiāng), which means 'He has a gun.' You can also use it in various contexts where firearms are discussed, or in figurative language referring to objects that resemble guns.
They are actually the same character, with 槍 being the traditional form and 枪 being the simplified form used in mainland China.
While it generally refers to firearms, in some contexts it can describe any object with a similar shape or function.
Common classifiers include 支 (zhī) for long, thin objects and 把 (bǎ) for objects with handles.
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