How to Write 銎 (qióng) — Meaning “Socket (of an axe or spear)”

Imagine a strong metal 金 socket on an axe that you need to "gong" (巩 sounds like gong) into place with a hammer. The sound helps you link the top part 巩 to the idea of securing the socket.

Write the top part 巩 first, paying attention to the left side 工 (gōng) and the right side 凡 (fán) with its hook. The bottom 金 must be written slightly wider to support the top. A common mistake is making the top too wide or misplacing the hook stroke on 凡.

銎 specifically means a socket for a tool or weapon, while 鈬 (duó) is a bell or a kind of instrument, and 鉄 (tiě) is an old variant of 铁 meaning iron. Visually, 鈬 has 啇 as its top component, and 鉄 uses 失 instead of 巩, so the shapes differ clearly.

銎 is a technical term mainly used in archaeology, weaponry, or tool descriptions, such as 銎斧 (socketed axe) or 銎孔 (socket hole). It is rare in everyday conversation but appears in historical or museum contexts when discussing ancient bronze weapons.

Common words containing 銎 include: 銎斧 (qióng fǔ) — Socketed axe; 銎孔 (qióng kǒng) — Socket hole; 斧銎 (fǔ qióng) — Axe socket.