鉗子 / 钳子
qiánzi
In Chinese, the word for pliers is 鉗子 / 钳子 (qiánzi). Wiktionary also lists 鉗 / 钳 (qián).
Meaning: gripping tool which multiplies the strength of the user's hand (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 鉗子 / 钳子 | qiánzi |
| 鉗 / 钳 | qián |
The term refers to a gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 鉗 / 钳 is a noun meaning pliers or pincers. In the word 鉗子 / 钳子, the suffix 子 is often added to monosyllabic nouns like 鉗 to form a disyllabic noun.
Which one should you use?
鉗子 / 钳子 is the standard way to refer to the tool in modern Mandarin. While 鉗 / 钳 refers to the tool itself, it is more commonly used in compound words rather than standing alone in casual conversation, where 鉗子 / 钳子 is preferred.
How does it change in a sentence?
In modern Mandarin, it is standard practice to add the suffix 子 to the monosyllabic noun 鉗 / 钳 to create the disyllabic form 鉗子 / 钳子.
How do you pronounce it?
qiánzi
Did you know?
- In ancient China, the character 鉗 also referred to a wooden gag or a muzzle used to silence prisoners. This original meaning reflects the tool's function of clamping something shut.
- In some regions, if you are searching for a specific type of pliers, you must add the material or function to the front, such as 老虎鉗 / 老虎钳 for 'tiger pliers', which refers to water pump pliers.
- The character 鉗 is used in the Chinese idiom 鉗制, which means to restrain or keep someone under tight control. In this context, it describes a psychological or political grip rather than a physical tool.
Examples in context
- 我的父亲常常用钳子修理东西。My father often uses pliers to repair things.
- 这把钳子很好用，我每次修东西都会用到。This pair of pliers is very useful, I use it every time I repair things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pliers” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
