How to Write 铲 (chǎn) — Meaning “Shovel; to shovel”

Q: What is a creative mnemonic to remember 铲?

Imagine a metal shovel (钅) that is so productive (产) it can dig up a whole pile of dirt in one scoop. The right side 产 looks like a shovel blade with a handle sticking out, helping you picture the tool.

Q: What should I watch out for when writing 铲?

The left radical 钅 has five strokes, and the right part 产 has six strokes, making 11 total. Be careful to write the horizontal strokes of 产 evenly spaced, and avoid making the top of 产 too wide—it should balance with the narrow metal radical on the left.

Q: What common words use 铲?

Common words containing 铲 include: 铲子 (chǎn zi) — Shovel; spatula; 锅铲 (guō chǎn) — Spatula; turner; 铲雪 (chǎn xuě) — To shovel snow.

chǎn HSK Level 7 11 strokes Radical: 钅

铲 (chǎn) means "Shovel; to shovel" in Chinese. It has 11 strokes with the radical 钅, and is HSK Level 7.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 95% of HSK Level 7 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 铲子 (chǎn zi), 锅铲 (guō chǎn), 铲雪 (chǎn xuě).

Due to its 11 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 铲 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 铲 (chǎn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 铲 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 铲

The character 铲 (chǎn) is written with 11 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 钅 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does chǎn (铲) Mean in Chinese?

铲 means Shovel; to shovel.

As an HSK Level 7 character, 铲 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	铲
Pinyin	chǎn (chan)
Meaning	Shovel; to shovel
Strokes	11
Radical	钅
HSK Level	7
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 铲

铲 combines the metal radical 钅 (indicating the tool is made of metal) with 产 (meaning 'to produce'), suggesting a metal tool that produces movement of earth or materials. The right component 产 originally depicted a sprouting plant emerging from the ground, reinforcing the idea of digging or shifting soil. Together, they form the image of a shovel—a metal implement used to excavate or move loose material.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a metal shovel (钅) producing (产) a pile of dirt as you dig—each scoop births a new mound.

Common Words with 铲

铲子 chǎn zi

Shovel; spatula

锅铲 guō chǎn

Spatula; turner

铲雪 chǎn xuě

To shovel snow

Example Sentences

墙角有一把铲子。

qiáng jiǎo yǒu yī bǎ chǎn zi

There is a shovel in the corner.

妈妈在找锅铲。

mā mā zài zhǎo guō chǎn

Mom is looking for the spatula.

冬天我们要铲雪。

dōng tiān wǒ men yào chǎn xuě

We need to shovel snow in winter.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
铲 (current)	chǎn	11	钅
钙	gài	9	钅
钚	bù	9	钅
钛	tài	9	钅

Practice Writing 铲 (chǎn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 铲 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 铲

What are the components of 铲 and how do they relate to its meaning?

铲 combines the metal radical 钅 (jīn) on the left with 产 (chǎn, meaning "to produce") on the right. The metal radical indicates the tool is made of metal, and 产 provides a phonetic hint for the pronunciation chǎn. Together they form the meaning of a metal shovel or the action of shoveling.

What is a creative mnemonic to remember 铲?

What should I watch out for when writing 铲?

How is 铲 different from similar characters like 钙 and 钚?

In what situations would I use 铲 in modern Chinese?

What common words use 铲?

How to Write 铲 (chǎn) — Meaning “Shovel; to shovel”

Practice Writing 铲 (chǎn)

How to Write 铲

What Does chǎn (铲) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 铲

Common Words with 铲

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 铲 (chǎn)

Frequently Asked Questions about 铲

More HSK Level 7 Characters

Characters with Radical 钅

Other 11-Stroke Characters