铲 (chǎn) - Shovel — a tool with a broad blade & to shovel, to remove or eliminate.

铲Tone 3

chǎn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

铲 · chǎn

Shovel — a tool with a broad blade and typically a long handle, used for digging, lifting, and moving loose material;

to shovel, to remove or eliminate.

Shovel — a tool with a broad bladeto shovel, to remove or eliminate.

Usage highlights

ShovelTo shovel awayTo eradicateShovel truckScoop shovelShovel head

Synonyms

  • 锹— Spade, shovel (similar tool)
  • 掘— To dig (related action)

Antonyms

  • 堆— To pile up (opposite action)
  • 积— To accumulate (opposite action)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He used a shovel (铲子) to clear the snow.
  • They will shovel away the dirt (铲除泥土).
  • The government aims to eradicate corruption (铲除腐败).
  • This is a stainless steel shovel (不锈钢铲).

Collocations

  • Shovel(铲子)
  • To shovel away(铲掉)
  • To eradicate(铲除)
  • Shovel truck(铲车)
  • Scoop shovel(铁铲)
  • Shovel head(铲头)

Idioms

  • To uproot and eliminate completely(斩草除根, 连根铲除)
  • To eradicate the evil and support the good(铲恶扶善)
  • To shovel away injustice(铲除不平)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 铲 is associated with manual labor, agriculture, and construction, reflecting its primary use as a tool.
  • In modern contexts, it is often used metaphorically to mean 'eliminate' or 'eradicate', as in efforts against social ills.
  • The radical 钅 indicates its historical connection to metal tools.

FAQ