Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鍬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鍬qiāoshovelzg, 17 strokes, radical 釒
qiāo(qiao1) T1
  1. 1shovel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鍬qiāo(qiao1)

鍬 (qiāo) refers to a shovel, a common tool used for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials. It is primarily used in agricultural or construction contexts, emphasizing its practical utility in various manual labor tasks.

Strokes17Radical釒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, farming tools like the shovel have played a significant role in agricultural practices, reflecting the importance of agriculture in Chinese society. The significance of such tools is often highlighted in festivals that celebrate harvests.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant shovel made of metal, gleaming in the sun. The character 鍬 combines the metal radical '金' (jin) which represents 'metal', suggesting that shovels are often made from metal, and the phonetic component '喬' (qiáo), which sounds like 'qiāo'. Picture a farmer shouting 'qiāo!' as they use their shovel in the field.

Meanings of 鍬

qiāo(qiao1)
1shovel
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鍬 means.

About 鍬

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

Podcast: 鍬

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鍬

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鍬

Usage Notes

When using 鍬, remember it is generally used in more formal contexts related to work or agriculture. Common collocations include phrases like '鍬土' (qiāo tǔ), meaning 'to shovel soil'. Be careful of tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鍬 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to practical vocabulary that might appear in higher-level contexts about daily life and work. Focus on its usage in agricultural or construction-related conversations, as it may help to expand your vocabulary in these domains.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鍬 with similar sounding words. For instance, saying 'qiāo' instead of 'qiào' (meaning 'to tilt') can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you're using the correct tones to convey the right meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鍬

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鍬 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 鍬 to You

Let me explain 鍬 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 鍬 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Etymology of 鍬

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 秋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鍬.

Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)秋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鍬 = 釒 + 秋. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鍬

IDS Structure⿰釒秋
鍬Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
秋Qiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鍬?

How to say shovel in Chinese

“shovel” in Chinese is鍬qiāo

鍬 (qiāo) refers to a shovel, a common tool used for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials. It is primarily used in agricultural or construction contexts, emphasizing its practical utility in various manual labor tasks.

When to use 鍬

When using 鍬, remember it is generally used in more formal contexts related to work or agriculture. Common collocations include phrases like '鍬土' (qiāo tǔ), meaning 'to shovel soil'. Be careful of tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鍬 with similar sounding words. For instance, saying 'qiāo' instead of 'qiào' (meaning 'to tilt') can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you're using the correct tones to convey the right meaning.

Write 鍬

鍬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 鍬?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 鍬

Words Containing This Character2
铁锹spade鐵鍬
锹qiāoshovel鍬
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鍬

What does 铁锹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鍬

The correct pronunciation is 'qiāo', with a high and level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鍬?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.