How to Write 碹 (xuàn) — Meaning “Arch (of a bridge or kiln)”

Imagine a stone (石) bridge that has a curved arch shaped like the top of a loudspeaker, since 宣 means "proclaim" or "announce." Picture the stone arch loudly announcing itself, helping you link the stone radical and the 宣 component to the meaning of arch.

When writing 碹, make the left radical 石 narrow, with the 'mouth' (口) slightly smaller than usual. The right part 宣 starts with a dot on top, then a horizontal stroke, then 日, and ends with a horizontal line. A common mistake is making the 石 too wide or forgetting the top dot of 宣.

碹 contains the component 宣, while 硝 has 肖 and 硪 has 我. Visually, 碹 is the only one with the 宣 part. In meaning, 碹 refers to an arch in construction, 硝 means saltpeter (a chemical), and 硪 is a stone roller used for farming.

碹 is a technical term used in architecture and engineering, especially for arched bridges, kilns, or tunnels. It is uncommon in daily conversation and appears mostly in construction documents or descriptions of traditional Chinese buildings. For example, 碹门 (arched door) is a feature in classical garden architecture.

Common words containing 碹 include: 碹门 (xuàn mén) — Arched door; 碹胎 (xuàn tāi) — Arch mold / Centering; 碹拱 (xuàn gǒng) — Arched vault.