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铲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
铲
chǎn
spade, shovel; trowel, scoop
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #8255, Very Hard
铲
chǎn
to level off
HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #8255, Very Hard
铲
chǎn
to root up
HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #8255, Very Hard
chǎn(chan3)chan T3
1spade, shovel; trowel, scoop
2to level off
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
铲(剷)chǎn(chan3)
The character 铲 (chǎn) refers to tools such as a spade or shovel, commonly used for digging or moving materials like soil. It can also mean to level off a surface or to root up something from the ground, emphasizing its practical use in gardening, construction, or land preparation.
Strokes11Radical钅Frequency#8255DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, tools like the 铲 (shovel) have been essential for farming, reflecting the importance of agriculture in Chinese rural culture. The practice of digging and leveling land is deeply connected to the agrarian lifestyle and food production.
Memory tip
Imagine using a shiny, silver spade (铲) to dig up treasures from the ground. The metal part of the spade looks like the radical 钅 (metal), reminding you that it is a tool used for digging and lifting.
Meanings of 铲
chǎn(chan3)
1spade, shovel; trowel, scoop
2to level off
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 铲 means.
About 铲
铲Simplified
剷Traditional
11Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 铲
Podcast: 铲
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AI study notes for 铲
Quick Contrast
铲 (chǎn) vs 锹 (qiāo) — use 铲 for spade-like tools primarily used for digging or leveling, while 锹 refers specifically to a shovel, often used for lifting and moving loose material.
Usage Notes
This character is primarily used in informal contexts, especially when discussing gardening or construction. Common collocations include ‘铲土’ (to shovel soil) and ‘铲雪’ (to shovel snow). Be careful with the third tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the HSK vocabulary list, 铲 (chǎn) can be useful for learners at HSK Level 3 or 4, especially when discussing outdoor activities or construction. Focus on using it in sentences related to gardening or tool usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 铲 (chǎn) with 锹 (qiāo) when discussing tools, mistakenly saying '我需要一个铲' (I need a spade) instead of '我需要一个锹' (I need a shovel) if referring to a larger tool. Ensure you use the correct term based on the tool size and function.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 铲
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How well do you know 铲?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 铲 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.
铲 = 钅 + 产. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 铲
IDS Structure⿰钅产
铲Full character
=
钅jin1
left
产chan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 铲?
How to say spade, shovel; trowel, scoop in Chinese
“spade, shovel; trowel, scoop” in Chinese is铲chǎn
The character 铲 (chǎn) refers to tools such as a spade or shovel, commonly used for digging or moving materials like soil. It can also mean to level off a surface or to root up something from the ground, emphasizing its practical use in gardening, construction, or land preparation.
When to use 铲
This character is primarily used in informal contexts, especially when discussing gardening or construction. Common collocations include ‘铲土’ (to shovel soil) and ‘铲雪’ (to shovel snow). Be careful with the third tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
铲 or something close to it
铲 (chǎn) vs 锹 (qiāo) — use 铲 for spade-like tools primarily used for digging or leveling, while 锹 refers specifically to a shovel, often used for lifting and moving loose material.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 铲 (chǎn) with 锹 (qiāo) when discussing tools, mistakenly saying '我需要一个铲' (I need a spade) instead of '我需要一个锹' (I need a shovel) if referring to a larger tool. Ensure you use the correct term based on the tool size and function.
Write 铲
铲
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Practice writing 铲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 铲
铲 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
有时候你肯定会错估____球的时机。
You're bound to mistime a tackle every so often.
Example sentences for 铲 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
有时候你肯定会错估铲球的时机。
yǒushíhou nǐ kěndìng huì cuò gū chǎn qiú de shíjī。
You're bound to mistime a tackle every so often.
2
彭德古德把旅行拖车里的沙子铲了出来。
péng dé gǔ dé bǎ lǚxíng tuō chē lǐ de shāzi chǎn le chūlái。
Pendergood had shovelled the sand out of the caravan.
3
女孩子们拿着桶和铲子在沙滩上快活地玩耍。
nǚ háizi men ná zhe tǒng hé chǎnzi zài shātān shàng kuàihuo dì wánshuǎ。
The girls happily played in the sand with buckets and spades.
