金
marks words for metal · Kangxi radical 167
marks words for metal, metal tools and vessels, and metalworking
Early forms of 金 seem to show lumps or nuggets of metal beside a casting mould or a bell-like shape, though which object was originally drawn is still argued. In the modern character you can read the picture as a roof-like top covering 土 'earth', with two short strokes on either side standing for the lumps of ore in the ground. When 金 sits inside characters it usually points to metal: 鑒 a bronze mirror, 鍪 an iron pot, 錾 to engrave, 鐾 to whet a blade.
金 at a glance
- Meaning
- marks words for metal
- Strokes
- 8
- Characters
- 21
- Role
- Contributes meaning
- Kangxi radical
- 167
Characters with 金 (15 of 21)
Beyond HSK · 14
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 金 mean?
金 means "marks words for metal". In the characters that contain it, it contributes meaning.
How many Chinese characters contain 金?
21 characters in this dictionary contain 金, including ones at HSK 6.
Is 金 a radical?
Yes — 金 is Kangxi radical 167, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 金 have?
金 is written in 8 strokes.