Meanings of 灶
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 灶
Podcast: 灶
Podcast: 灶
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 灶
Learners often confuse 灶 with other cooking-related terms like 炊 (chuī) or 厨房 (chúfáng), which means kitchen. It's important to remember that 灶 specifically refers to the stove itself. Use it in informal contexts when discussing cooking at home, but in formal settings, you might prefer 厨房.
While 灶 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects well with food-related vocabulary that often appears in daily conversation. Focus on pairing it with relevant verbs and adjectives to enhance your cooking-related discussions.
A common mistake is to use 灶 interchangeably with 炉 (lú), which refers more broadly to a furnace or oven; for example, saying '我在炉上煮饭' (Wǒ zài lú shàng zhǔ fàn) would be incorrect if you mean specifically the stove. Always use 灶 for cooking on the stove.
Pronunciation of 灶
Drill the tone of 灶 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 灶
A clay 土 oven 火
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 灶
- 1The giveawayA clay 土 oven 火
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 灶? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 灶?
Decomposition of 灶
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 灶?
How to say kitchen stove in Chinese
“kitchen stove” in Chinese is灶
The character 灶 (zào) refers to a kitchen stove or cooking area, essential for preparing meals in Chinese households. It can also denote the broader concept of a kitchen, especially in contexts related to cooking and food preparation. In traditional Chinese culture, the stove holds significant importance as a symbol of family life and nourishment.
When to use 灶
Learners often confuse 灶 with other cooking-related terms like 炊 (chuī) or 厨房 (chúfáng), which means kitchen. It's important to remember that 灶 specifically refers to the stove itself. Use it in informal contexts when discussing cooking at home, but in formal settings, you might prefer 厨房.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to use 灶 interchangeably with 炉 (lú), which refers more broadly to a furnace or oven; for example, saying '我在炉上煮饭' (Wǒ zài lú shàng zhǔ fàn) would be incorrect if you mean specifically the stove. Always use 灶 for cooking on the stove.
Write 灶
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 灶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 灶
灶 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 3 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.
Complete the Sentence
大部分食物都是在一口很大的烧柴土____上烹煮的。
Most of the food is cooked on a large wood-fired oven.
Example Sentences for 灶 (4)
Word Family of 灶
Compound Meaning
What does 灶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 灶
灶 refers specifically to the stove or cooking area, while 厨房 means kitchen as a whole, including all its appliances and spaces.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 灶?
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.