(chán) - To cut & to engrave

Tone 2

chán | 19 strokes | radical:

· chán

To cut;

to engrave;

to chisel;

to carve;

to break;

to pierce.

To cutto engraveto chisel

Usage highlights

Carve jadeEngrave a stoneCut metalChisel a cliffCarve charactersPierce through

Synonyms

  • to carve; to engrave
  • to carve; to sculpt
  • to chisel; to dig

Antonyms

  • to mend; to repair
  • to connect; to join

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The artisan carved the jade (劖玉).
  • He chiseled the stone tablet (劖石碑).
  • The sharp blade can cut through metal (劖金).
  • Ancient inscriptions were engraved on bronze (劖刻青铜).

Collocations

  • Carve jade(劖玉)
  • Engrave a stone(劖石)
  • Cut metal(劖金)
  • Chisel a cliff(劖崖)
  • Carve characters(劖字)
  • Pierce through(劖透)

Idioms

  • Carve bones and engrave muscles(劖骨刻肌)
  • Carve the heart and cut the gallbladder(劖心劖胆)
  • Engrave on gold and stone(劖金劖石)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used in classical Chinese and literary contexts, especially related to craftsmanship and inscription.
  • Associated with the art of seal carving (篆刻) and stone inscription in Chinese cultural heritage.
  • Rarely used in modern vernacular Chinese, appearing mainly in historical or specialized texts.

FAQ