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鍥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鍥qièsickle; to cut, to carve, to engravezg, 17 strokes, radical 釒, rank #85161, Very Hard
qiè(qie4) T4
  1. 1sickle; to cut, to carve, to engrave
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March 24, 2026

鍥qiè(qie4)

The character 鍥 (qiè) refers to a sickle, a tool commonly used for cutting crops. It also conveys the action of cutting, carving, or engraving, emphasizing precision and skill in shaping objects or materials.

Strokes17Radical釒Frequency#85161DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, sickles like the 鍥 were essential tools, symbolizing hard work and the agrarian lifestyle that is deeply rooted in Chinese history and culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sickle that 'cuts' through the air with a 'qiè' sound. The character features the radical for metal (金), suggesting that the tool is made of metal, while the rest of the character resembles a sharp blade poised to cut.

Meanings of 鍥

qiè(qie4)
1sickle; to cut, to carve, to engrave
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鍥

鍥Simplified
17Strokes
釒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鍥

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Podcast: 鍥

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AI Study Notes for 鍥

Usage Notes

This character is more commonly used in formal contexts related to agriculture or craftsmanship. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include terms for tools or methods of cutting.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鍥 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to other HSK vocabulary about tools and actions (e.g., 刀 dāo - knife). Focus on the pronunciation and the context of use to integrate it better into your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鍥 (qiè) with 切 (qiē), which also means 'to cut' but is more general and commonly used. Remember that 鍥 specifically refers to a sickle or specialized cutting tools.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鍥

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Etymology of 鍥

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Something engraved 契 in metal 釒; 契 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 鍥?

Decomposition of 鍥

IDS Structure⿰釒契
鍥Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
契qi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鍥?

How to say sickle; to cut, to carve, to engrave in Chinese

“sickle; to cut, to carve, to engrave” in Chinese is鍥qiè

The character 鍥 (qiè) refers to a sickle, a tool commonly used for cutting crops. It also conveys the action of cutting, carving, or engraving, emphasizing precision and skill in shaping objects or materials.

When to use 鍥

This character is more commonly used in formal contexts related to agriculture or craftsmanship. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include terms for tools or methods of cutting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鍥 (qiè) with 切 (qiē), which also means 'to cut' but is more general and commonly used. Remember that 鍥 specifically refers to a sickle or specialized cutting tools.

Write 鍥

鍥

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

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Word Family of 鍥

Words Containing This Character2
锲而不舍qiè’érbùshěto persevere鍥而不捨
锲qièto cut鍥
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鍥

What does 锲而不舍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鍥

You might say, '他用鍥割稻子,' meaning 'He uses a sickle to cut rice.'

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