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砖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
砖zhuān>砖[zhuān]HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 石, rank #7678, Hard
砖zhuānbrickHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 石, rank #7678, Hard
砖zhuān>块[kuài]HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 石, rank #7678, Hard
砖zhuāntile, brickHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 石, rank #7678, Hard
zhuān(zhuan1) T1
  1. 1>砖[zhuān]
  2. 2brick
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March 24, 2026
砖(塼)zhuān(zhuan1)

The character 砖 (zhuān) refers to a brick, which is a common building material made from clay or other substances. It is used in construction for walls, pavements, and various structures. In everyday contexts, it can also represent sturdiness or reliability.

Strokes9Radical石Frequency#7678DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, bricks were often used in the construction of courtyards and temples, symbolizing stability and permanence. The craftsmanship involved in brick-making is also a reflection of historical building techniques in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sturdy brick (砖) holding up a house. The character looks like a block (the top part) supporting a foundation (the bottom part). The pronunciation 'zhuān' can remind you of the action of 'drawing' a line to outline the brick's shape.

Meanings of 砖

zhuān(zhuan1)
1brick
2tile, brick
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 砖

砖Simplified
塼Traditional
9Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7678Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 砖

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Podcast: 砖

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AI Study Notes for 砖

Quick Contrast

砖 (brick) vs 瓦 (tile) — use 砖 when referring to a solid building block, while 瓦 is used for flat roofing materials.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sturdy brick (砖) holding up a house. The character looks like a block (the top part) supporting a foundation (the bottom part). The pronunciation 'zhuān' can remind you of the action of 'drawing' a line to outline the brick's shape.

Usage Notes

When using 砖 in conversation, ensure you pair it with the correct measure word, 块 (kuài), as in 一块砖 (yī kuài zhuān) for 'a brick'. Be careful with the pronunciation; it has a flat tone that may confuse it with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 砖 connects with other construction-related vocabulary and phrases. Students should focus on using it in context, such as in discussions about architecture or building materials, to enhance their comprehension.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, bricks were often used in the construction of courtyards and temples, symbolizing stability and permanence. The craftsmanship involved in brick-making is also a reflection of historical building techniques in China.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 砖 (zhuān) with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying '我有砖' (wǒ yǒu zhuān) may be understood, but it's more common to specify the context, like '我有一块砖' (wǒ yǒu yī kuài zhuān).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 砖

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Etymology of 砖

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

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 专 represents the sound. Simplified form of 磚.

Memory Hint

stone

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 砖?

Decomposition of 砖

IDS Structure⿰石专
砖Full Character
=
石dan4
left
专zhuan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 砖?

Write 砖

砖

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

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Grammar Patterns of 砖

砖 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

鸟儿们紧贴在墙上，啄着____缝。

The birds cling to the wall and nibble at the brickwork.

Example Sentences for 砖 (10)

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1
鸟儿们紧贴在墙上，啄着砖缝。

niǎo ér mén jǐn tiē zài qiáng shàng， ， zhuó zháo zhuān。

The birds cling to the wall and nibble at the brickwork.
2
他紧贴一面砖墙站着好让我通过。

tā jǐn tiē yī miàn zhuān qiáng zhàn zháo hǎo ràng wǒ tōng guò。

He flattened himself against a brick wall as I passed.
3
要确保这些瓷砖经过彻底灌浆并且密封好。

yào què bǎo zhè xiē cí zhuān jīng guò chè dǐ guàn jiāng bìng qiě mì fēng hǎo。

Make sure that your tiles are thoroughly grouted and sealed.
4
在校成绩好并非总是获得高薪职位的敲门砖。

zài xiào chéng jì hǎo bìng fēi zǒng shì huò dé gāo xīn zhí wèi de qiāo mén zhuān。

Academic success is not always an open sesame to a well-paid job.
5
那所学校是用砖建造的。

nà suǒ xué xiào shì yòng zhuān jiàn zào de。

The school is built of brick.
6
所有的门都用砖堵了起来，防止破坏分子闯入。

suǒ yǒu de mén dū yòng zhuān dǔ le qǐ lái， ， fáng zhǐ pò huài fēn zǐ chuǎng。

All the doors have been bricked up to deter vandals.
7
每块砖在色调、质地与大小上也都略有不同。

měi kuài zhuān zài sè tiáo、 、 zhì dì yǔ dà xiǎo shàng yě dū lüè yǒu bù。

Each brick also varies slightly in tone, texture and size.
8
墙面和地板上都贴着瓷砖。

qiáng miàn hé dì bǎn shàng dū tiē zháo cí zhuān。

The walls and floors are clad with ceramic tiles.
9
在南大街上，一座巨大的砖砌建筑赫然出现在人们的视线中。

zài nán dà jiē shàng， ， yī zuò jù dà de zhuān qì jiàn zhù hè rán chū xiàn zài rén mén de shì xiàn。

On South Main Street, a huge brick building looms into view.
10
她的车突然转向冲出了马路，撞向6英尺高的一面砖墙。

tā de chē tū rán zhuǎn xiàng chōng chū le mǎ lù， ， zhuàng6 xiàng 6 yīng chǐ gāo de yī miàn。

Her car swerved off the road into a 6ft high brick wall.

Cultural Notes for 砖

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese architecture, bricks were often used in the construction of courtyards and temples, symbolizing stability and permanence. The craftsmanship involved in brick-making is also a reflection of historical building techniques in China.

Word Family of 砖

Words Containing This Character17
砖zhuānbrick磚
瓷砖ceramic tile瓷磚
砖头brick磚頭
地砖floor tile地磚
砖块brick磚塊
敲门砖to use sb as a stepping stone to fortune敲門磚
抛砖引玉lit. throw out a brick and get jade thrown back (idiom)拋磚引玉
添砖加瓦fig. to do one's bit to help添磚加瓦
冰砖ice-cream brick冰磚
耐火砖firebrick耐火磚
砖瓦tiles and bricks磚瓦
砌砖to lay bricks砌磚
砖窑场brick kiln磚窯場
镁砖magnesium brick (refractory material)鎂磚
引玉之砖lit. a brick thrown to prompt others to produce a jade (idiom)引玉之磚
软木砖cork tile軟木磚
搬砖砸脚to boomerang搬磚砸腳
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 砖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 砖

Both characters refer to 'brick', but 砖 is more commonly used in modern contexts while 磚 is an older variant.