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钢铁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
钢铁gāngtiěsteelHSK 7, n, 19 strokes, rank #9437, Very Hard
gāngtiě(gang1tie3)gang tie T1
  1. 1steel
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March 24, 2026

钢铁(鋼鐵)gāngtiě(gang1tie3)

钢铁 (gāngtiě) refers to steel, a strong and durable metal alloy primarily made of iron and carbon. It is commonly used in construction, manufacturing, and various industrial applications, symbolizing strength and resilience.

Strokes19Frequency#9437DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In China, steel production has been a significant part of industrialization since the late 20th century, reflecting the country's rapid economic development and modernization efforts.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'gang' of strong warriors wearing 'tie' armor made of steel. The characters 钢 (gāng) and 铁 (tiě) can be visualized as a strong metal shield protecting them, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 钢铁

gāngtiě(gang1tie3)
1steel
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 钢铁

钢铁Simplified
鋼鐵Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#9437Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 钢铁

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Podcast: 钢铁

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AI study notes for 钢铁

Quick Contrast

铁 (tiě) — use 钢铁 when referring specifically to steel, which is an alloy, while 铁 refers to iron in its pure form.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 钢铁 with other metals like 金属 (jīnshǔ), which means metal in general. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in discussions about construction and engineering.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 钢铁 connects to other technical vocabulary related to materials and industry. Students should focus on its usage in context, especially in phrases like 钢铁生产 (gāngtiě shēngchǎn - steel production) to enhance their understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 钢 (gāng) alone to mean steel, which is incorrect since it specifically means 'steel' only in conjunction with 铁 (tiě). Always use the full term 钢铁.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钢铁

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Component characters

钢gāngsteel
HSK 79 strokes钅
View full entry
铁tiěiron (metal)
HSK 710 strokes钅
View full entry

How to say steel in Chinese

“steel” in Chinese is钢铁gāngtiě

钢铁 (gāngtiě) refers to steel, a strong and durable metal alloy primarily made of iron and carbon. It is commonly used in construction, manufacturing, and various industrial applications, symbolizing strength and resilience.

When to use 钢铁

Be careful not to confuse 钢铁 with other metals like 金属 (jīnshǔ), which means metal in general. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in discussions about construction and engineering.

钢铁 or something close to it

铁 (tiě) — use 钢铁 when referring specifically to steel, which is an alloy, while 铁 refers to iron in its pure form.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 钢 (gāng) alone to mean steel, which is incorrect since it specifically means 'steel' only in conjunction with 铁 (tiě). Always use the full term 钢铁.

Write 钢铁

钢
铁

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

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Grammar patterns of 钢铁

钢铁 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他们的优柔寡断已经被自信和____般的决心所取代。

Their indecision has been replaced by confidence and steely determination.

Example sentences for 钢铁 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们的优柔寡断已经被自信和钢铁般的决心所取代。

tāmen de yōu róu guǎ duàn yǐjīng bèi zìxìn hé gāngtiě bān de juéxīn suǒ qǔdài。

Their indecision has been replaced by confidence and steely determination.
2
镀锌层是用来防止钢铁生锈的.

dù xīn céng shì yònglái fángzhǐ gāngtiě shēngxiù de.

A zinc coating is applied to the steel for rust protection.
3
在20世纪30年代,英国的钢铁产量几乎翻了一番。

zài20 shìjì30 niándài, Yīng guó de gāngtiě chǎnliàng jīhū fān le yīfān。

In the course of the 1930s steel production in Britain approximately doubled.
4
接着就是钢铁一般的回答,使得李玉亭毛发直竖: “ 你不懂?

jiēzhe jiùshì gāngtiě yìbān de huídá, shǐde Lǐ yù tíng máo fā zhí shù: “ nǐ bù dǒng?

Li Yu - ting's scalp prickled at Chao Po - tao's steely voice when he next spoke, " You don't understand?
5
现代建筑中,钢铁是不可或缺的材料之一。

Xiàndài jiànzhù zhōng, gāngtiě shì bù kě huò quē de cáiliào zhī yī.

In modern architecture, steel is one of the indispensable materials.
6
为了提高桥梁的耐用性,工程师们选用了特殊处理过的钢铁。

Wèile tígāo qiáoliáng de nàiyòng xìng, gōngchéngshīmen xuǎnyòngle tèshū chǔlǐ guò de gāngtiě.

To enhance the durability of the bridge, engineers chose specially treated steel.
7
这座城市因其钢铁工业而闻名于世。

Zhè zuò chéngshì yīn qí gāngtiě gōngyè ér wénmíng yú shì.

This city is world-famous for its steel industry.
8
在制造汽车的过程中,钢铁是不可或缺的材料。

Zài zhìzào qìchē de guòchéng zhōng, gāngtiě shì bùkě huòquē de cáiliào.

Steel is an indispensable material in the process of manufacturing cars.
9
为了提升建筑的强度,工程师们选择使用高强度钢铁。

Wèile tíshēng jiànzhù de qiángdù, gōngchéngshīmen xuǎnzé shǐyòng gāo qiángdù gāngtiě.

To enhance the strength of the building, engineers choose to use high-strength steel.
10
钢铁的使用大大减少了建筑物的整体重量。

Gāngtiě de shǐyòng dàdà jiǎnshǎo le jiànzhùwù de zhěngtǐ zhòngliàng.

The use of steel greatly reduces the overall weight of the building.

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Frequently asked questions about 钢铁

Yes, it's commonly used in discussions about construction and industry.

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