钳

鉗

qián

noun #10,037

Measure Word

一把钳 bǎ

Meanings

1 pincers; pliers; tongs
2 claw (of an animal)
3 to clamp; to grip with pincers

Characters

pincers; to clamp

Examples

请递给我一把钳子。

Qǐng dì gěi wǒ yī bǎ qiánzi.

Please hand me a pair of pliers.

螃蟹的钳很有力。

Pángxiè de qián hěn yǒulì.

A crab's claws are very powerful.

Tips

usage

钳 alone refers to the tool or claw. 钳子 (qiánzi) is the more common colloquial form for pliers/tongs.

memory

The radical 钅(metal) + 甘 (sweet) — imagine a metal tool sweetly gripping things tight.

Stroke Order

钳 qián