qiān
noun HSK 7-9 #8,232

Meanings

  1. 1 lead (metal)

Examples

HSK 1
Qiānqiú
shot put
HSK 2
Qiānbǐ
pencil

Tips

usage
(metal) + - 铅笔 literally means 'lead pen' (pencil)

Components

radical
jīn
metal; gold
The metal radical (left-side form of ) marks as one of the metallic elements. It heads the chemistry family of metals - iron, copper, silver, zinc - where frames a phonetic that names which metal.
phonetic
small table; how many
The top portion of the right side approximates a shape and contributes the upper half of the phonetic stem . Its standalone reading is incidental; here it is recruited mainly for its visual silhouette and supporting sound role.
phonetic
kǒu
mouth
Closes the lower half of the right side. Together with the above it forms a phonetic unit historically read as a sound related to lead, linking to 沿 and which share the same right-side compound.

Stroke Order

qiān