五金

wǔjīn

noun #24,816

Meanings

1 metal hardware
2 the five metals (gold, silver, copper, iron, tin)
3 hardware (store/goods)

Characters

Examples

他去五金店买了螺丝和钉子。

Tā qù wǔjīn diàn mǎi le luósī hé dīngzi.

He went to the hardware store and bought screws and nails.

这条街上有很多五金商店。

Zhè tiáo jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō wǔjīn shāngdiàn.

There are many hardware shops on this street.

古代五金指金、银、铜、铁、锡。

Gǔdài wǔjīn zhǐ jīn, yín, tóng, tiě, xī.

In ancient times, the five metals referred to gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin.

Tips

history

五金 originally referred to the five fundamental metals of Chinese civilization. In modern usage it has shifted to mean 'hardware' in the general sense — nuts, bolts, tools, and metal fittings found in hardware stores (五金店).

Stroke Order

五 wǔ

金 jīn