砺 (lì) - whetstone & to grind
砺 · lì
whetstone;
to grind;
to sharpen;
to temper oneself through hardship.
whetstoneto grindto sharpen
Usage highlights
whetstoneto sharpen a knifeto temper one's willto hone one's skillsto temper an armyto grind and polish
Usage & contexts
Examples
- He sharpened the sword on a whetstone (在砺石上磨剑).
- The army tempered its skills through rigorous training (砺兵秣马).
- One must temper one's will through hardship (砥砺意志).
Collocations
- whetstone(砺石)
- to sharpen a knife(砺刀)
- to temper one's will(砺志)
- to hone one's skills(砺技)
- to temper an army(砺兵)
- to grind and polish(砥砺)
Idioms
- To temper the army and feed the horses(砺兵秣马)
- To grind and sharpen oneself(砥砺前行)
- To sharpen weapons and await battle(砺戈秣马)
Cultural background
FAQ- Historically associated with the process of sharpening tools and weapons, symbolizing preparation and diligence.
- Used metaphorically in self-cultivation contexts, representing the refinement of character and skills through persistent effort.
- Common in classical texts emphasizing moral and intellectual improvement through adversity.