Meaning of 钻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to drill
- to bore
- to get into
- to make one's way into
- to enter (a hole)
- to thread one's way through
- to study intensively
- to dig into
- drill; auger
- diamond
- variant of 鑽|钻[zuan4]
How to use 钻
As a verb, 钻 (zuān) means to drill or to squeeze into a tight space. It also means to dig deep into a subject, as in 钻研 (zuānyán). Example: 小猫钻进了箱子里。(Xiǎo māo zuān jìn le xiāngzi lǐ.) The kitten crawled into the box.
钻 is made of the metal radical 钅 plus 占 (zhàn). Picture a metal tool that occupies a spot and works its way in, like a drill boring into wood.
Common mistake: Learners often use the first tone in 钻石. In words for the tool or the gem, such as 钻石 (zuànshí) and 钻头 (zuàntóu), it is fourth tone zuàn. Verbs like 钻研 and 钻进 keep first tone zuān.
钻 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
钻 zuān · to drill · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 钻.
| 钻石 | zuànshí | diamond |
| 钻研 | zuānyán | to study meticulously; to delve into |
| 钻空子 | zuān kòngzi | to take advantage of a loophole; to exploit an advantage; to seize the opportunity (esp. t |
| 钻进 | zuānjìn | to get into; to dig into (studies, job etc) |
| 钻头 | zuàntóu | drill bit |
| 钻井 | zuānjǐng | to drill (e.g. for oil); a borehole |
| 钻戒 | zuànjiè | diamond ring |
| 钻洞 | zuāndòng | to bore; to burrow |
| 钻探 | zuāntàn | to conduct exploratory drilling |
| 钻孔 | zuānkǒng | to bore a hole; to drill |
Questions about 钻
What does 钻 mean?
钻 (zuān) means "to drill; to bore" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 钻?
钻 is made of 1 character: 钻 (10 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 钻 an HSK word?
Yes. 钻 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 钻 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 钻 is written 鑽.
What does 钻空子 mean, and is it negative?
钻空子 (zuān kòngzi) literally means to drill into a gap. It means to exploit a loophole and usually sounds negative, like taking unfair advantage.
Can 钻 describe a person, not just a tool?
Yes. People or animals can 钻 into crowds, holes, or blankets, meaning they squeeze or wriggle in. Example: 他钻进人群。(Tā zuān jìn rénqún.) He pushed his way into the crowd.