栔 (qì) - To carve & to engrave

栔Tone 4

qì ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

七器

栔 · qì

To carve;

to engrave;

to cut;

also refers to a contract or agreement in ancient times.

To carveto engraveto cut

Usage highlights

Carve charactersEngrave patternsAncient contractWood carvingEngraving knifeCarve bamboo

Synonyms

  • 刻— to carve, to engrave
  • 雕— to carve, to sculpt
  • 镂— to engrave, to carve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He carved characters on bamboo slips (栔字于竹简).
  • Ancient contracts were engraved on wood (古代契约刻于木上).
  • The artisan skillfully engraved patterns (工匠巧妙地栔刻图案).

Collocations

  • Carve characters(栔字)
  • Engrave patterns(栔刻图案)
  • Ancient contract(栔约)
  • Wood carving(木栔)
  • Engraving knife(栔刀)
  • Carve bamboo(栔竹)

Idioms

  • Carve boat and seek sword(刻舟求剑)
  • Carve in bone and inscribe in bronze(镂骨铭心)
  • Carve a mark on a moving boat(刻船求剑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, important documents and contracts were often carved on bamboo or wood strips.
  • The character reflects early Chinese writing practices before the widespread use of paper.
  • Used in the context of formal agreements and legal documents in historical contexts.

FAQ