砥 (dǐ) - whetstone & to polish, refine

砥Tone 3

dǐ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

砥 · dǐ

whetstone;

to polish, refine;

foundation, basis

whetstoneto polish, refinefoundation, basis

Usage highlights

whetstonetemper oneselfcornerstonepolish/jade and stonegrind and temperfoundation stone

Synonyms

  • 砺— whetstone; to grind
  • 磨— to grind, polish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sharpened the knife on a whetstone (砥石).
  • They worked hard to temper themselves (砥砺).
  • This forms the foundation of our cooperation (合作的基础).
  • The book serves as a cornerstone of classical learning (经典学问的砥柱).

Collocations

  • whetstone(砥石)
  • temper oneself(砥砺)
  • cornerstone(砥柱)
  • polish/jade and stone(砥厉)
  • grind and temper(砥节)
  • foundation stone(基石)

Idioms

  • Middle stream pillar(中流砥柱)
  • Temper one's moral character(砥砺品格)
  • Grind and sharpen(砥锋挺锷)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, whetstones were essential tools for sharpening blades and weapons.
  • The character carries metaphorical meanings of self-cultivation and moral refinement.
  • 砥柱 refers to a pillar standing firm in midstream, symbolizing steadfastness against adversity.

FAQ