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锟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锟kūna legendary swordg, 13 strokes, radical 钅
锟kūnsteel swordunknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅
kūn(kun1) T1
  1. 1a legendary sword
  2. 2steel sword
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

锟(錕)kūn(kun1)

The character 锟 (kūn) refers to a legendary sword, often associated with strength and valor in Chinese literature. It can also denote a steel sword, symbolizing power and resilience, commonly used in martial arts contexts or in references to historical weaponry.

Strokes13Radical钅
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, swords symbolize not only physical strength but also moral integrity, often referenced in classical literature such as 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The legendary sword represents not just a weapon but a hero's journey.

Memory Tip

Imagine a mighty warrior wielding a shining steel sword (锟) that represents strength and bravery. The radical 钅 (metal) hints at its material, while the rest of the character suggests a sharp, cutting edge, reminiscent of ancient legendary tales.

Meanings of 锟

kūn(kun1)
1a legendary sword
2steel sword
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 锟

锟Simplified
錕Traditional
13Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锟

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Podcast: 锟

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AI Study Notes for 锟

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday language and is more likely found in literary contexts or historical references. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as it may be confused with other similar-sounding words in Chinese.

HSK Study Tips

Although 锟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners can connect it to related words about weapons and martial arts, which often appear in HSK levels 4 and above. Focus on understanding the cultural significance of weapons in Chinese history.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锟 with other characters that represent different types of swords or weapons, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 锟 when referring to a common sword like 剑 (jiàn) is incorrect; remember that 锟 denotes a legendary or steel sword.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锟

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Etymology of 锟

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)钅
+
Phonetic (sound)昆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 锟

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half昆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 锟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 锟?

Decomposition of 锟

IDS Structure⿰钅昆
锟Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
昆kun1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 锟?

How to say a legendary sword in Chinese

“a legendary sword” in Chinese is锟kūn

The character 锟 (kūn) refers to a legendary sword, often associated with strength and valor in Chinese literature. It can also denote a steel sword, symbolizing power and resilience, commonly used in martial arts contexts or in references to historical weaponry.

When to use 锟

This character is rarely used in everyday language and is more likely found in literary contexts or historical references. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as it may be confused with other similar-sounding words in Chinese.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锟 with other characters that represent different types of swords or weapons, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 锟 when referring to a common sword like 剑 (jiàn) is incorrect; remember that 锟 denotes a legendary or steel sword.

Write 锟

锟

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 锟

Words Containing This Character2
锟kūnsteel sword錕
曹锟Cao Kun (1862-1938), one of the Northern Warlords曹錕
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 锟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 锟

No, 锟 is primarily found in literary texts and references to historical contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.

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