(guō) — pot; pan; wok; cauldron

Definition

锅 (guō) is the everyday word for a cooking pot, pan, or wok — the vessel you cook food in. 罐 is a sealed storage jar, 壶 is for liquids (teapot, kettle), and 炉子 is the stove itself.

noun
potpanwokcauldron
Measure word · 口, 只

Examples

  • Zhè kǒu guō hěn pián yi.
    This pot is very cheap.
  • Mā ma yòng guō zhǔ mǐ fàn.
    Mom uses the pot to cook rice.
  • Qǐng bǎ guō fàng zài zhuō zi shàng.
    Please put the pot on the table.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鍋; 锅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
wāiguō
Same sound today

In the traditional form 鍋, 金 marks metal and 咼 provides the sound; the simplified 锅 is a later shorthand.

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