How to Write 钻 (zuān/zuàn) — Meaning “to drill / diamond”

Imagine a metal drill (钅) that is "occupied" (占) with the task of making a hole. Picture the drill bit pressing into a surface and "taking over" that spot. This image links the metal radical and the sound-like component to the action of drilling.

The radical 钅 is written with 5 strokes: left-falling, three horizontals, then a vertical lift (not a hook). The right part 占 has 5 strokes: vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal fold, and final horizontal — make sure the top '卜' shape is compact. A common mistake is writing the vertical lift of 钅 too short or confusing it with a hook, and another is making the right side too wide or unbalanced.

钻 (zuān) has 占 (zhàn) on the right, meaning 'drill' or 'diamond', while 钍 (tǔ) has 土 (tǔ, earth) and is a chemical element (thorium). 钎 (qiān) has 千 (qiān, thousand) and refers to a drill rod or steel punch. Visually, the right component of each is different: 占 contains a 卜 inside, 土 is a simple cross, and 千 is a cross with a downward stroke.

钻 has two readings: zuān (to drill, to study intensively) and zuàn (diamond). It appears in common words like 钻研 (zuānyán, to delve into research) and 钻石 (zuànshí, diamond). Culturally, 钻 is used in idioms such as 钻牛角尖 (to split hairs), which warns against being overly pedantic.

Common words containing 钻 include: 钻研 (zuān yán) — to study intensively / to delve into; 钻洞 (zuān dòng) — To drill a hole; to crawl through a hole.; 钻石 (zuàn shí) — diamond.