kitchen, oven, stove

JLPT N5 7 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (zào) refers to a stove or kitchen hearth traditionally used for cooking. It often implies a fixed cooking place, such as a brick or clay stove, especially in rural or older settings.

Common Contexts

is commonly used when talking about traditional cooking methods or kitchen setups. It contrasts with modern gas or electric stoves but can also refer to any cooking stove in a more formal or literary sense.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (lǎoshì zào): old-fashioned stove, emphasizing traditional style
  • 现代 (xiàndài zào): modern stove, highlighting updated kitchen equipment
  • 农村 (nóngcūn zào): rural stove, often made from clay or bricks

Usage Notes

When using , speakers often evoke a sense of tradition or rustic life. It is less common in everyday speech for modern kitchens, where (zào jù) or simply 炉子 (lúzi) might be preferred. Avoid confusing with , which can mean furnace or heater in broader contexts.

Summary

Use when referring to a traditional or fixed cooking stove, especially in cultural or historical contexts. It carries a nostalgic or rural flavor and is useful for describing kitchen setups in older or countryside homes.

Example Sentences

Grandma cooks on the old-fashioned stove, and the food tastes especially

The stoves in the countryside are usually built with clay bricks.

A modern stove was newly installed in the kitchen, making cooking more