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钢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
钢
gāng
steel
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 钅, rank #8430, Very Hard
钢
gāng
steel; hard, strong, tough
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 钅, rank #8430, Very Hard
gāng(gang1)gang T1
1steel
2steel; hard, strong, tough
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March 24, 2026
钢(鋼)gāng(gang1)
The character 钢 (gāng) refers to 'steel,' a strong and durable metal widely used in construction and manufacturing. It embodies qualities of hardness and toughness, making it a fundamental material in various industries. In everyday language, it can also describe something that is unyielding or resilient.
Strokes9Radical钅Frequency#8430DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
Steel is a significant material in China's rapid industrialization and urban development. The term 钢 is commonly seen in the context of major infrastructure projects, symbolizing China's modernization efforts.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant steel beam (钢) supporting a skyscraper. The shape of the character looks like a beam resting on supports, emphasizing its strength. Remembering 'gāng' can be linked to the sound of a 'gong' that rings strong and clear, just like steel’s sturdy nature.
Meanings of 钢
gāng(gang1)
1steel
2steel; hard, strong, tough
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 钢 means.
About 钢
钢Simplified
鋼Traditional
9Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8430Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 钢
Podcast: 钢
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AI study notes for 钢
Quick Contrast
钢 (gāng) vs 铁 (tiě) — use 钢 for steel, a specific alloy known for strength, while 铁 refers to iron, a more basic metal with different properties.
Usage Notes
Steel (钢) is a common term in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about construction and engineering. A common mistake is confusing it with related words; for example, do not confuse it with 铁 (tiě), which means 'iron.' Be mindful of tone pronunciation; 'gāng' has a high-level tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 钢 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to the HSK 4 level's focus on materials and descriptions of strength. Students should focus on understanding its application in context, especially in phrases related to strength and durability.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 钢 (gāng) with 铁 (tiě), leading to incorrect usage in contexts involving metal. For example, saying '我需要一些铁家具' (I need some iron furniture) when it should be '钢家具' (steel furniture) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 钢
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 钢 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
钢 = 钅 + 冈. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 钢
IDS Structure⿰钅冈
钢Full character
=
钅jin1
left
冈gang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 钢?
How to say steel in Chinese
“steel” in Chinese is钢gāng
The character 钢 (gāng) refers to 'steel,' a strong and durable metal widely used in construction and manufacturing. It embodies qualities of hardness and toughness, making it a fundamental material in various industries. In everyday language, it can also describe something that is unyielding or resilient.
When to use 钢
Steel (钢) is a common term in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about construction and engineering. A common mistake is confusing it with related words; for example, do not confuse it with 铁 (tiě), which means 'iron.' Be mindful of tone pronunciation; 'gāng' has a high-level tone.
钢 or something close to it
钢 (gāng) vs 铁 (tiě) — use 钢 for steel, a specific alloy known for strength, while 铁 refers to iron, a more basic metal with different properties.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 钢 (gāng) with 铁 (tiě), leading to incorrect usage in contexts involving metal. For example, saying '我需要一些铁家具' (I need some iron furniture) when it should be '钢家具' (steel furniture) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 钢
钢
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Grammar patterns of 钢
钢 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 2 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.
Every night you could hear the whistles of the steel mill.
2
她是伦敦著名的“薄荷犀牛”夜总会的钢管舞舞者。
tā shì lún dūn zhùmíng de“ báo hé xī niú” yèzǒnghuì de gāng guǎn wǔ wǔ zhě。
She is a pole dancer at London's famous Spearmint Rhino club.
3
演奏钢琴的戴夫将这支曲子反复弹了两三遍。
yǎnzòu gāngqín de dài fū jiāng zhè zhī qǔzi fǎnfù dàn le liǎng sān biàn。
Dave, the pianist, played it over a couple of times.
4
他坐在书桌后吃力地写着，用的是一支部队发的钢笔。
tā zuò zài shūzhuō hòu chīlì dì xiě zhe， yòng de shì yī zhī bùduì fā de gāngbǐ。
He sat behind a desk laboriously writing with an Army issue pen.
5
多亏一块1/4英寸厚的防弹钢板，他才捡了条命。
duōkuī yī kuài1/4 Yīng cùn hòu de fáng dàn gāng bǎn， tā cái jiǎn le tiáo mìng。
His life was saved by a quarter-inch-thick bullet-proof steel screen.
6
他是当下仍旧活跃的最有闯劲、最具想象力的爵士乐钢琴师之一。
tā shì dāngxià réngjiù huóyuè de zuì yǒu chuǎng jìn、 zuì jù xiǎngxiàng lì de juéshì lè gāngqín Shī zhīyī。
He's one of the most dynamically imaginative jazz pianists still functioning.
7
霍华德是个很有天分的钢琴家。
huò huā dé shì gè hěn yǒu tiānfèn de gāngqín jiā。
Howard is a talented pianist.
8
他7岁开始上钢琴课。
tā7 suì kāishǐ shàng gāngqín kè。
He started piano lessons at the age of
9
谁把我的钢笔拿走了?
shéi bǎ wǒ de gāngbǐ názǒu le?
Who has taken my pen?
10
不要老是把你的钢笔东放西放,否则总有一天会丢失的.
búyào lǎoshì bǎ nǐ de gāngbǐ dōng fàng xī fàng, fǒuzé zǒng yǒu yī tiān huì diūshī de.
Don't always leave your pen about or you will lose it one day.
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Word Family of 钢
Words containing this character20
钢琴gāngqínpiano鋼琴
钢gāngsteel鋼
钢铁gāngtiěsteel鋼鐵
钢笔gāngbǐfountain pen鋼筆
钢材gāngcáisteel (as raw material)鋼材
不锈钢búxiùgāngstainless steel不銹鋼
钢筋gāngjīnsteel reinforcing bar鋼筋
钢板gāngbǎnsteel plate鋼板
钢管gāngguǎnsteel pipe鋼管
宝钢bǎogāngBaosteel, China's largest steel maker寶鋼
钢丝gāngsīsteel wire鋼絲
钢琴家gāngqínjiāpianist鋼琴家
钢琴师gāngqínshīpianist鋼琴師
炼钢liàngāngsteelmaking煉鋼
走钢丝zǒugāngsīto walk a tightrope (literally or figuratively)走鋼絲
钢厂gāngchǎnga steelworks鋼廠
钢盔gāngkuīmetal helmet鋼盔
钢刀gāngdāosword鋼刀
钢珠gāngzhūsteel ball鋼珠
宝钢集团bǎogāngjítuánBaosteel, China's largest steel maker寶鋼集團
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 钢
What does 钢琴 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 钢
Some synonyms for 钢 (gāng) include 铁 (tiě), which means 'iron,' and 合金 (héjīn), meaning 'alloy.' However, 钢 specifically denotes steel, which has unique properties compared to these other metals.
Yes, 钢 (gāng) is commonly used in everyday language, especially in discussions about construction, tools, and materials. It's a fundamental term in industries related to manufacturing and engineering.
钢 (gāng) means 'steel' in Chinese. It is a material known for its hardness and strength, commonly used in construction and manufacturing. The character is often used in contexts related to metalwork or industrial applications.
You can use 钢 (gāng) in sentences to refer to items made of steel or to describe something as strong or tough. For example, '这把刀是用钢做的' means 'This knife is made of steel.'
In everyday language, 钢 typically means 'steel,' referring to the strong metal used in construction and manufacturing.
The correct pronunciation is 'gāng,' with a high-level tone. Make sure not to drop the tone when saying the word.
Yes, related terms include 铁 (tiě) for 'iron' and 铝 (lǚ) for 'aluminum,' each with different properties and uses.
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