镶 meaning and stroke order
To inlay; to embed; ridge
How to write 镶, stroke by stroke
22 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 镶
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to inlay
- to embed
- ridge
- border
How 镶 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 襄 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 镶
The metal radical 钅 on the left points to metalwork, and 襄 (xiāng) on the right gives the sound. Picture a jeweler pressing a gem into a metal setting, which is exactly what 镶 means.
镶 is used for setting stones, tiles, or decorations into a surface, and also for trimming an edge with a border. It often appears in 镶嵌 (xiāngqiàn) and in phrases like 镶边 (xiāngbiān, to edge with a border). Example: 这枚戒指上镶着一颗钻石。(Zhè méi jièzhi shang xiāngzhe yì kē zuànshí.) This ring is set with a diamond.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 镶 with 嚷 (rǎng, to shout) and 壤 (rǎng, soil), which share 襄 but have different radicals and tones. Remember that only the metal radical gives the first tone xiāng and the meaning of inlaying.
Common words with 镶
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 镶嵌 | xiāngqiàn | to inlay; to embed | HSK 7-9 |
镶 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 镶
How many strokes are in 镶?
镶 is written with 22 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 镶 mean?
镶 (xiāng) means to inlay; to embed; ridge. A common word with it is 镶嵌 (xiāngqiàn), meaning "to inlay; to embed".
How do you pronounce 镶?
镶 is pronounced xiāng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 镶?
The radical of 镶 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 镶 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 镶?
The traditional form of 镶 is 鑲. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 镶 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 镶 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 镶 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say a tooth is capped or filled with 镶?
Chinese uses 镶牙 (xiāng yá) for getting a false tooth or crown fitted. For example, 他去医院镶了一颗牙 (Tā qù yīyuàn xiāngle yì kē yá) means he went to the hospital to have a tooth fitted.
Can 镶 be used for things that are not metal or jewelry?
Yes. Although the radical is metal, 镶 is used for any inlay or trim, such as wood with mother of pearl, walls with tiles, or a garment with a lace border. 镶嵌 can also be used figuratively, like stars set in the night sky.