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楦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
楦xuànshoe last; to stretch a shoe; to turn a latheng, 13 strokes, radical 木
楦xuàn(wooden) shoe lastunknown, 13 strokes, radical 木
xuàn(xuan4) T4
  1. 1shoe last; to stretch a shoe; to turn a lathe
  2. 2(wooden) shoe last
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March 24, 2026

楦(楥)xuàn(xuan4)

The character 楦 (xuàn) primarily refers to a shoe last, which is a mold used in shoemaking to give shoes their shape. It can also imply the action of stretching a shoe or turning a lathe, indicating its application in craftsmanship. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized contexts related to shoe manufacturing or woodworking.

Strokes13Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, the making of shoes is considered an important skill, reflecting the value placed on handmade goods. The use of a shoe last is essential in ensuring that shoes fit well, which ties into the cultural importance of well-fitting clothing in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shoe (the last) stretching out on a lathe, where the shape is carefully crafted. The character 楦 resembles a shoe being formed, with the top part (木) representing wood and the bottom part (亶) hinting at the action of shaping, connecting to its pronunciation 'xuàn' like the sound of a lathe turning.

Meanings of 楦

xuàn(xuan4)
1shoe last; to stretch a shoe; to turn a lathe
2(wooden) shoe last
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 楦

楦Simplified
楥Traditional
13Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 楦

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Podcast: 楦

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AI Study Notes for 楦

Usage Notes

This character is quite specialized, so it tends to appear in formal or technical contexts, particularly in discussions about shoemaking or carpentry. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 鞋 (xié) for shoe, which is more commonly used in everyday language. Pay attention to the correct pronunciation to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As 楦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners at this level should focus on more commonly used characters related to everyday life, such as 鞋 (shoe) and 制 (to make). However, understanding 楦 can be beneficial for those interested in craftsmanship or specific trades.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 楦 with 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoe' but does not refer to the mold. For instance, saying '我需要一个鞋' (I need a shoe) instead of '我需要一个楦' (I need a shoe last) when referring to the mold is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 楦

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Etymology of 楦

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

wood

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 楦

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half宣 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

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

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Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 楦?

Decomposition of 楦

IDS Structure⿰木宣
楦Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
宣Xuan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 楦?

How to say shoe last; to stretch a shoe; to turn a lathe in Chinese

“shoe last; to stretch a shoe; to turn a lathe” in Chinese is楦xuàn

The character 楦 (xuàn) primarily refers to a shoe last, which is a mold used in shoemaking to give shoes their shape. It can also imply the action of stretching a shoe or turning a lathe, indicating its application in craftsmanship. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized contexts related to shoe manufacturing or woodworking.

When to use 楦

This character is quite specialized, so it tends to appear in formal or technical contexts, particularly in discussions about shoemaking or carpentry. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 鞋 (xié) for shoe, which is more commonly used in everyday language. Pay attention to the correct pronunciation to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 楦 with 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoe' but does not refer to the mold. For instance, saying '我需要一个鞋' (I need a shoe) instead of '我需要一个楦' (I need a shoe last) when referring to the mold is incorrect.

Write 楦

楦

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

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Word Family of 楦

Words Containing This Character4
鞋楦shoe tree
楦xuàn(wooden) shoe last楥
楦头toe box (of a shoe)楦頭
楦子shoe tree
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鞋楦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 楦

A shoe last is a mold used in shoemaking, which helps shape the shoe and ensure proper fit.

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