剺 (lí) - To cut & to score

剺Tone 2

lí ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

剺 · lí

To cut;

to score;

to mark with a knife;

to incise.

To cutto scoreto mark with a knife

Usage highlights

To cut leatherIncised marksTo score the faceCutting toolScoring technique

Synonyms

  • 刻— to carve, to engrave
  • 割— to cut, to sever
  • 划— to scratch, to mark

Antonyms

  • 合— to join, to unite
  • 补— to mend, to repair

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The artisan scored the leather with a knife (剺皮).
  • Ancient people used sharp stones to incise marks (剺痕).
  • The ritual required scoring the surface (剺面).

Collocations

  • To cut leather(剺皮)
  • Incised marks(剺痕)
  • To score the face(剺面)
  • Cutting tool(剺具)
  • Scoring technique(剺法)

Idioms

  • To cut the face and weep blood(剺面泣血)
  • To carve bones and inscribe muscles(剺骨铭肌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character appears in ancient texts describing ritual self-mutilation or marking practices.
  • Used historically in contexts of mourning or solemn oath-taking where physical marking symbolized deep commitment.
  • The character is rare in modern usage but preserved in classical literature and historical records.

FAQ