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棺材 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
棺材guāncaicoffinHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #3992, Very Hard
guāncai(guan1cai5) T1
  1. 1coffin
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March 24, 2026

棺材guāncai(guan1cai5)

棺材 (guān cái) refers to a coffin, which is a container for a deceased person's body. It is used primarily in funerary contexts and is an important part of Chinese burial customs, reflecting respect for the dead and ancestral traditions.

Strokes19Frequency#3992DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the treatment of the dead is deeply rooted in Confucian values, which emphasize respect for ancestors. The design and materials of a 棺材 can reflect social status and familial honor.

Memory Tip

Imagine 'guan' as a grand guardian, and 'cai' sounds like 'sigh'—think of a guardian sighing over the resting place of a loved one in a coffin. The character 棺 (guan) has a tree radical that might remind you of the wood used to make coffins.

Meanings of 棺材

guāncai(guan1cai5)
1coffin
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About 棺材

棺材Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
具Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 棺材

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AI Study Notes for 棺材

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in formal contexts related to funerals or discussions about death. Be cautious of the tone; using 棺材 casually or inappropriately can be seen as disrespectful.

HSK Study Tips

While 棺材 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of related terms about death and funerals, which can appear in HSK readings or discussions. Focus on recognizing the character components and their meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the tones, pronouncing it as 'guan3 cai2' instead of 'guan1 cai5'. It's essential to maintain the correct tones to convey the right meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 棺材

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Component Characters

棺guāncoffin
12 strokes木
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材cáimaterial
7 strokes木
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How to say coffin in Chinese

“coffin” in Chinese is棺材guāncai

棺材 (guān cái) refers to a coffin, which is a container for a deceased person's body. It is used primarily in funerary contexts and is an important part of Chinese burial customs, reflecting respect for the dead and ancestral traditions.

When to use 棺材

This term is typically used in formal contexts related to funerals or discussions about death. Be cautious of the tone; using 棺材 casually or inappropriately can be seen as disrespectful.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the tones, pronouncing it as 'guan3 cai2' instead of 'guan1 cai5'. It's essential to maintain the correct tones to convey the right meaning.

Write 棺材

棺
材

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 棺材

No, 棺材 specifically refers to coffins and is not used metaphorically.

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