How to Write 铿 (kēng) — Meaning “Clang / Resonant sound”

Imagine a firm (坚) metal (钅) bell being struck, producing a loud "KENG!" sound. The left side 钅 looks like a metal hammer, and the right side 坚 reminds you the bell is solid and hard.

The left radical 钅 is narrow and has 5 strokes — be careful not to make it too wide. The right side 坚 has 7 strokes with two vertical lines at the top and a flat horizontal base; a common mistake is to write the bottom part like 土 instead of the correct 坚 shape.

All three share the metal radical 钅, but differ in the right side. 铿 uses 坚 (firm), so it relates to a clanging sound. 钰 uses 玉 (jade), meaning a precious metal like jade. 钱 uses 戋 (small), referring to small metal coins — money.

铿 appears in literary or formal descriptions of a strong, resonant sound, especially the human voice or music. The idiom 铿锵有力 (kēng qiāng yǒu lì) is often used to praise a speech or poem that is sonorous and forceful, and you might hear it in news or political commentary.

Common words containing 铿 include: 铿锵有力 (kēng qiāng yǒu lì) — Sonorous and forceful; 铿锵 (kēng qiāng) — Sonorous / Clanging; 铿然 (kēng rán) — Clanging / Resonant.