How to Write 铠 (kǎi) — Meaning “Armor”

Think of "Kai" like a knight named Kai who wears shiny metal armor. The left part 钅 looks like a metal shield, and the right part 岂 resembles a helmet with a visor. Picture Kai in full armor to remember the character.

The left radical 钅 should be narrow and tall, while the right part 岂 is wider. A common mistake is making the 岂 too small or writing the 山 on top incorrectly—remember it has a short vertical stroke in the middle. Practice the balance between the two sides.

铠 means armor, 钙 is the chemical element calcium, and 钚 is plutonium. Visually, 铠 has 岂 on the right, 钙 has 丐, and 钚 has 不. Although all share the metal radical, their right components and meanings are completely different.

铠 is used in historical or literary contexts about armor, like 铠甲 (armor) or 铁铠 (iron armor). It also appears in technical terms such as 铠装 (armored cables). You might see it in martial arts stories, video games, or historical dramas, but it is not common in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 铠 include: 铠甲 (kǎi jiǎ) — Armor; suit of armor; 铁铠 (tiě kǎi) — iron armor; 铠装 (kǎi zhuāng) — Armoring; armored (e.g., cables).