斵 (zhuó) - To chop, to cut, to hack & to carve wood

斵Tone 2

zhuó ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

志

斵 · zhuó

To chop, to cut, to hack;

to carve wood;

to hew;

to chisel;

to sculpt;

archaic term for cutting or carving.

To chop, to cut, to hackto carve woodto hew

Usage highlights

Carve woodHew stoneCarve jadeChisel and carveSkillful carvingRough hewing

Synonyms

  • 砍— to chop, to cut
  • 劈— to split, to chop
  • 削— to peel, to whittle
  • 雕— to carve, to engrave

Antonyms

  • 塑— to mold, to model (additive process vs. subtractive)
  • 建— to build, to construct
  • 筑— to build, to erect

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The carpenter carved the wood (斵木).
  • He hewed stones for the foundation (斵石).
  • Ancient artisans would chisel jade (斵玉).
  • The sculptor carved the statue meticulously (精雕细斵).

Collocations

  • Carve wood(斵木)
  • Hew stone(斵石)
  • Carve jade(斵玉)
  • Chisel and carve(雕斵)
  • Skillful carving(巧斵)
  • Rough hewing(粗斵)

Idioms

  • Carve an axe handle by looking at the axe in hand(执柯以伐柯, 睨而视之, 犹以为远 — from The Book of Songs)
  • The skilled craftsman does not chop rotten wood(良匠不斵朽)
  • Carve an ice disc to seek fire(斵冰求火)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical texts like Zhuangzi and The Book of Songs describing woodworking and craftsmanship.
  • Used metaphorically in philosophical contexts for cultivation or refinement of character.
  • Associated with ancient artisanship before modern tools; reflects manual precision and skill.

FAQ