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钢铁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
钢铁
gāngtiě
steel
HSK 7, n, 19 strokes, rank #9437, Very Hard
gāngtiě(gang1tie3)gang tie T1
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
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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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
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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)
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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.