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椠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
椠qiànwooden tablet; editionx, 12 strokes, radical 木
qiàn(qian4) T4
  1. 1wooden tablet; edition
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

椠(槧)qiàn(qian4)

The character 椠 (qiàn) refers to a wooden tablet or edition, often used historically for writing or recording information. It can also imply a version or edition of something, typically linked to texts or documents. In modern usage, it is less common and may appear in specific contexts, such as historical references or literary discussions.

Strokes12Radical木
Cultural Note

In ancient China, wooden tablets were crucial for record-keeping and education, serving as a primary medium for writing before the invention of paper. The use of such tablets reflects the importance of documentation in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wooden tablet (the shape of 椠) used to write down important information. The character's components, 木 (wood) and 鑒 (to reflect or mirror), can remind you of a reflective surface made from wood, like a wooden tablet that preserves knowledge.

Meanings of 椠

qiàn(qian4)
1wooden tablet; edition
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 椠

椠Simplified
槧Traditional
12Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 椠

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Podcast: 椠

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AI Study Notes for 椠

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more commonly found in historical or literary texts. Learners should be cautious about its formal context and may confuse it with similar characters like 版 (bǎn) which means 'version' or 'edition' but is more commonly used today.

HSK Study Tips

While 椠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can enhance your understanding of characters related to literature and history. Focus on the radicals and their meanings to better understand how they form more commonly used words.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 椠 with 版 (bǎn) due to their similar meanings relating to versions or editions. For example, using 椠 when discussing modern books instead of 版 would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 椠

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Etymology of 椠

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

wood

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 椠

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half斩 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 椠? 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 椠?

Decomposition of 椠

IDS Structure⿱斩木
椠Full Character
=
斩zhan3
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 椠?

How to say wooden tablet; edition in Chinese

“wooden tablet; edition” in Chinese is椠qiàn

The character 椠 (qiàn) refers to a wooden tablet or edition, often used historically for writing or recording information. It can also imply a version or edition of something, typically linked to texts or documents. In modern usage, it is less common and may appear in specific contexts, such as historical references or literary discussions.

When to use 椠

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more commonly found in historical or literary texts. Learners should be cautious about its formal context and may confuse it with similar characters like 版 (bǎn) which means 'version' or 'edition' but is more commonly used today.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 椠 with 版 (bǎn) due to their similar meanings relating to versions or editions. For example, using 椠 when discussing modern books instead of 版 would be incorrect.

Write 椠

椠

Practice writing 椠 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 椠

Words Containing This Character1
椠qiànedition槧
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 椠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 椠

No, 椠 is not commonly used today and is primarily found in historical or literary contexts.

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