壳
Character learning workspace

ké / qiào · casing, husk, shell

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #5895
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Learn every stroke in 壳

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

壳 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

ké

(coll.) shell (of an egg, nut, crab etc); case; casing; housing (of a machine or device)

贝壳bèi ké · shell
qiào

(bound form) shell; Taiwan pr. [ke2]

地壳dì qiào · the Earth's crust
Step-by-step explorer

See how 壳 is constructed

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

7Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

士Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

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Vocabulary in context

Common words with 壳

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

ké(coll.) shell (of an egg, nut, crab etc); case; casing; housing (of a machine or device)
qiào(bound form) shell; Taiwan pr. [ke2]
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 壳 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ zài hǎi biān jiǎn le gè piàoliang bèi ké.我在海边捡了个漂亮贝壳。

I picked up a pretty shell at the seaside.

Source: Tatoeba #5911660 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Dàn ké róng yì pò suì.蛋壳容易破碎。

The shell of an egg is easily broken.

Source: Tatoeba #791486 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zài hǎi tān shàng fā xiàn le yí gè piàoliang de bèi ké.我在海滩上发现了一个漂亮的贝壳。

I found a beautiful shell on the shore.

Source: Tatoeba #1358441 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài hǎi biān mài bèi ké.她在海边卖贝壳。

She sells seashells by the seashore.

Source: Tatoeba #3068647 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nàge rén nà me xiǎo qì, lián gǔ ké dōu bú ràng lǎo shǔ chī.那个人那么小气,连谷壳都不让老鼠吃。

That person's so stingy that he won't even let the mouse have the chaff.

Source: Tatoeba #2353506 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wō niú suō jìn ké lǐ qù le.蜗牛缩进壳里去了。

The snail retreated into its shell.

Source: Tatoeba #1593704 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 壳 in context

  1. Say ké / qiào, then recall the core meaning: casing, husk, shell.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 贝壳 (bèi ké), meaning “shell”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 壳 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.