斲 (zhuó) - To chop & to hew

斲Tone 2

zhuó ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

志

斲 · zhuó

To chop;

to hew;

to cut;

to carve wood;

to chisel;

to hack.

To chopto hewto cut

Usage highlights

hew woodcarve jadechop firewoodchisel stoneaxe for choppingskill in carving

Synonyms

  • 砍— to chop; to cut
  • 劈— to split; to chop
  • 削— to pare; to whittle
  • 雕— to carve; to engrave

Antonyms

  • 补— to mend; to repair
  • 建— to build; to construct
  • 塑— to mold; to shape (additive process)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The carpenter hewed the timber (斲木).
  • Ancient artisans carved jade with skill (斲玉).
  • He chopped firewood for the stove (斲柴).
  • The sculptor chiseled the stone block (斲石).

Collocations

  • hew wood(斲木)
  • carve jade(斲玉)
  • chop firewood(斲柴)
  • chisel stone(斲石)
  • axe for chopping(斲斧)
  • skill in carving(斲工)

Idioms

  • Cut away the superfluous(斲雕为朴)
  • Chop and carve to reveal true form(斲轮老手)
  • Carve against the grain(不斲不雕)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted an axe chopping into wood, representing manual craftsmanship.
  • Associated with ancient woodworking, carpentry, and jade carving techniques.
  • Used metaphorically for refining or cutting away excess to reveal essence.

FAQ