硎 (xíng) - Whetstone & grindstone

硎Tone 2

xíng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

硎 · xíng

Whetstone;

grindstone;

used for sharpening tools or weapons.

Whetstonegrindstoneused for sharpening tools or weapons.

Usage highlights

WhetstoneSharpening on a grindstoneNewly sharpenedGrindstone edgeWhetstone for knives

Synonyms

  • 砺— whetstone; to sharpen
  • 磨石— grindstone

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sharpened the sword on a whetstone (发硎新试).
  • The blade was as sharp as if just off the grindstone (新发于硎).
  • The artisan used a grindstone for honing (如硎之利).

Collocations

  • Whetstone(硎石)
  • Sharpening on a grindstone(发硎)
  • Newly sharpened(新硎)
  • Grindstone edge(硎刃)
  • Whetstone for knives(刀硎)

Idioms

  • As sharp as a newly ground blade(新发于硎)
  • To try out a newly sharpened weapon(发硎新试)
  • Sharp edge from the whetstone(如硎之利)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, whetstones were essential for maintaining tools and weapons.
  • The character appears in classical texts like Zhuangzi, symbolizing fresh potential and sharpness.
  • Metaphorically used to describe someone newly displaying their talents or abilities.

FAQ