埏 (shān) - To mix earth with water & to mold clay

埏Tone 1

shān ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

姗善

埏 · shān

To mix earth with water;

to mold clay;

boundary;

edge;

border;

also refers to a path or road.

To mix earth with waterto mold clayboundary

Usage highlights

Mix clayBorder regionMold potteryEarth moldingPath boundaryCeramic craft

Synonyms

  • 和— to mix, blend
  • 揉— to knead, work with hands
  • 界— boundary, border

Antonyms

  • 分— to separate, divide
  • 裂— to split, crack

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The potter mixes clay with water (埏埴).
  • They built a house on the border (边埏).
  • The path leads to the village (村埏).
  • Ancient craftsmen molded pottery (埏陶).

Collocations

  • Mix clay(埏埴)
  • Border region(边埏)
  • Mold pottery(埏陶)
  • Earth molding(埏土)
  • Path boundary(埏路)
  • Ceramic craft(埏器)

Idioms

  • Molding clay to make vessels(埏埴以为器)
  • Working the clay without tiring(埏埴不倦)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the process of preparing clay for pottery making in ancient Chinese craftsmanship.
  • Extended meaning to boundaries and borders, reflecting the concept of shaping and defining space.
  • Associated with Daoist philosophy of creation and transformation through the process of molding.

FAQ