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筷子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
筷子kuàizichopsticksHSK 3, n, rank #12226, Medium
筷子kuàizi>对[duì],根[gēn],把[bǎ],雙HSK 3, n, rank #12226, Medium
筷子kuàizi>双[shuāng]HSK 3, n, rank #12226, Medium
kuàizi(kuai4zi5) T4
  1. 1chopsticks
  2. 2>对[duì],根[gēn],把[bǎ],雙
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March 24, 2026
筷子kuàizi(kuai4zi5)

筷子 (kuài zi) refers to a pair of chopsticks used predominantly in Chinese cuisine for eating. They are typically made from wood, bamboo, or plastic and are an essential utensil in many East Asian cultures, representing both practicality and tradition in dining.

Frequency#12226DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, chopsticks symbolize harmony and balance, as they work together to pick up food. They also reflect the importance of communal dining, where sharing food is a common practice.

Memory Tip

Imagine two quick (快) sticks (子) that you use to pick up food. Visualize a pair of chopsticks moving rapidly to grab delicious pieces of sushi, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 筷子

kuàizi(kuai4zi5)
1chopsticks
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 筷子

筷子Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12226Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 筷子

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Podcast: 筷子

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AI Study Notes for 筷子

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine two quick (快) sticks (子) that you use to pick up food. Visualize a pair of chopsticks moving rapidly to grab delicious pieces of sushi, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the pronunciation of 'kuài' (快) and 'zi' (子), as mispronouncing can confuse it with other words. The term is informal, so you can use it in everyday conversations about food. Common collocations include '一双筷子' (a pair of chopsticks).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 word, 筷子 connects with other food-related vocabulary at this level, such as 食物 (shí wù - food) and 饭 (fàn - rice/meal). Focus on using it in context when discussing meals or dining experiences.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, chopsticks symbolize harmony and balance, as they work together to pick up food. They also reflect the importance of communal dining, where sharing food is a common practice.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 筷子 with other utensils like 叉 (fork) or 勺 (spoon). Remember that 筷子 specifically refers to chopsticks, while the others denote different eating tools.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 筷子

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Component Characters

kuàichopstick
13 strokes
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zison
HSK 33 strokes
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Write 筷子

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

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Grammar Patterns of 筷子

筷子 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他用____吃面条。

He eats noodles with chopsticks.

Example Sentences for 筷子 (2)

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1
在桌上有些盘子 、 碗和筷子.

zài zhuō shàng yǒu xiē pán zǐ、 、 wǎn hé kuài.

There are some plates, bowls and chopsticks on the table.
2
(桌上)有一些盘子 、 碗和筷子.

( ( zhuō) shàng ) yǒu yī xiē、 pán zǐ 、 wǎn.

There are some plates, bowls and chopsticks.

Cultural Notes for 筷子

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, chopsticks symbolize harmony and balance, as they work together to pick up food. They also reflect the importance of communal dining, where sharing food is a common practice.

Frequently Asked Questions about 筷子

Hold the top chopstick like a pencil, while the bottom one remains stationary, using it to grip food.