A wok spatula (锅铲, guō chǎn) is a wide, shovel-shaped metal tool with a curved blade edge that matches the inside radius of a wok. This curved profile allows the cook to scoop and toss ingredients from the wok floor in a single continuous motion.
Curved edge matching
The inside radius of a standard 32 cm carbon steel wok is approximately 14–15 cm. A wok spatula is ground with a similar curve so the blade sweeps the entire curved surface, preventing food from sitting in corners. A flat Western spatula leaves a zone of un-tossed food at the wok perimeter.
Length
34–38 cm is standard for home wok spatulas. Professional wok cooks use shorter tools (25–30 cm) for faster rotation at high volume. Longer handles are cooler but slower.