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鑿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鑿záochisel; to bore, to piercezg, 28 strokes, radical 金
záo(zao2) T2
  1. 1chisel; to bore, to pierce
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March 24, 2026

鑿záo(zao2)

The character 鑿 (záo) primarily means 'chisel' and can also refer to the action of boring or piercing through a material. It is commonly used in contexts involving woodworking, stone carving, and metalworking, signifying tools or actions that create holes or shapes.

Strokes28Radical金
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, the chisel is a vital tool for artisans, especially in wood and stone carving, reflecting the importance of skilled manual labor in Chinese culture and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a blacksmith using a chisel to pierce through a thick piece of metal. The character 鑿 resembles a tool with a pointed end, and the pronunciation 'záo' sounds like 'saw,' which is another tool used for cutting.

Meanings of 鑿

záo(zao2)
1chisel; to bore, to pierce
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鑿

鑿Simplified
28Strokes
金Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鑿

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Podcast: 鑿

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AI Study Notes for 鑿

Quick Contrast

凿 (zuó) — use 鑿 (záo) for tool or action context, and 凿 (zuó) specifically for the action of boring or piercing.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鑿 with similar characters related to tools or actions. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone, as the wrong tone can change the meaning completely. Common collocations include 鑿石 (to chisel stone) and 鑿孔 (to bore a hole).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鑿 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be useful for learners at HSK 5 or higher who are expanding their vocabulary related to craftsmanship. Students should focus on recognizing this character in context, especially in discussions about tools and construction.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 鑿 as 'zào' instead of 'záo,' which can lead to confusion with the character 造 (to make). Another common mistake is using it inappropriately in contexts unrelated to tools or piercing actions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鑿

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Etymology of 鑿

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

A metal 金 drill 丵 boring a hole 臼; 殳 provides the pronunciation

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

Origin

What kind of character is 鑿?

Decomposition of 鑿

IDS Structure⿱⿰⿱丵臼殳金
鑿Full Character
=
丵zhuo2
top
臼jiu4
bottom
殳Shu1
金Jin1
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 鑿?

How to say chisel; to bore, to pierce in Chinese

“chisel; to bore, to pierce” in Chinese is鑿záo

The character 鑿 (záo) primarily means 'chisel' and can also refer to the action of boring or piercing through a material. It is commonly used in contexts involving woodworking, stone carving, and metalworking, signifying tools or actions that create holes or shapes.

When to use 鑿

Learners often confuse 鑿 with similar characters related to tools or actions. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone, as the wrong tone can change the meaning completely. Common collocations include 鑿石 (to chisel stone) and 鑿孔 (to bore a hole).

鑿 or something close to it

凿 (zuó) — use 鑿 (záo) for tool or action context, and 凿 (zuó) specifically for the action of boring or piercing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 鑿 as 'zào' instead of 'záo,' which can lead to confusion with the character 造 (to make). Another common mistake is using it inappropriately in contexts unrelated to tools or piercing actions.

Write 鑿

鑿

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

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Word Family of 鑿

Words Containing This Character13
确凿quèzáodefinite確鑿
凿záochisel鑿
开凿to cut (a canal, tunnel, well etc)開鑿
凿子chisel鑿子
凿井to dig a well鑿井
凿岩(rock) drilling鑿岩
凿岩机rock drill鑿岩機
穿凿to bore a hole穿鑿
穿凿附会to make far-fetched claims (idiom)穿鑿附會
凿壁偷光lit. to pierce the wall to steal a light (idiom)鑿壁偷光
方枘圆凿incompatible (idiom)方枘圓鑿
确凿不移established and irrefutable (idiom)確鑿不移
圆凿方枘incompatible (idiom)圓鑿方枘
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鑿

What does 确凿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鑿

It is pronounced as 'záo,' with the second tone rising slightly.

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