How to Write 锸 (chā) — Meaning “spade; shovel”

Imagine a metal shovel (钅) that is used to "插" (insert) into the ground. The right side 臿 looks like a tool with a blade at the top and a handle below, so you can picture a shovel blade poking into soil.

The left radical 钅 is written first, with its three horizontal strokes kept narrow. The right part 臿 has a top component that looks like "千" but with a vertical stroke going through; make sure the bottom 臼 is wide and stable to balance the character.

锸 (spade) has the phonetic 臿 on the right, while 铓 (sharp point of a knife) has 亡 on the right and means 'blade edge'. 铸 (to cast metal) has 寿 on the right and relates to metalworking, not digging tools.

锸 is used in contexts like 铁锸 (iron spade) for gardening or construction tools in rural areas. It is not common in daily conversation but appears in classical literature and agricultural terms, reflecting traditional farming tools.

Common words containing 锸 include: 铁锸 (tiě chā) — iron spade; 锸土 (chā tǔ) — To dig soil with a spade; 锸入 (chā rù) — To insert (a spade or tool).