锹 (qiāo) - Spade & shovel — a digging tool with a broad

锹Tone 1

qiāo ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

锹 · qiāo

Spade;

shovel — a digging tool with a broad metal blade and a long handle.

Spadeshovel — a digging tool with a broad

Usage highlights

Iron spadeWooden shovelDig with a spadeShovel handleShovel bladeSquare

Synonyms

  • 铲— shovel, spade (similar tool)
  • 铧— plowshare (agricultural implement)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He dug a hole with a spade (用锹挖洞).
  • The gardener uses a shovel (园丁用铁锹).
  • We need a spade for planting trees (种树需要铁锹).
  • The construction worker lifted dirt with a shovel (建筑工人用铁锹铲土).

Collocations

  • Iron spade(铁锹)
  • Wooden shovel(木锹)
  • Dig with a spade(用锹挖)
  • Shovel handle(锹把)
  • Shovel blade(锹头)
  • Square-mouthed spade(方口锹)

Idioms

  • Not an idiom character — typically appears in practical compound words rather than classical idioms.

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 锹 represents a fundamental agricultural and construction tool with a long history in Chinese civilization.
  • As a utilitarian character, it appears mainly in practical contexts rather than literary or philosophical texts.
  • The character reflects the importance of farming implements in traditional Chinese society.

FAQ