磋 (cuō) - To polish, grind, or consult carefully — refers & by extension, to deliberate, discuss, or refine through

磋Tone 1

cuō ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

磋 · cuō

To polish, grind, or consult carefully — refers to the process of polishing jade or stones;

by extension, to deliberate, discuss, or refine through careful consultation.

To polish, grind, or consult carefully — refersby extension, to deliberate, discuss, or refine through

Usage highlights

Consult and discussPolish and grindDeliberate carefullyMutual consultationTechnical consultationTrade negotiations

Synonyms

  • 磨— to grind, polish
  • 琢— to carve, polish jade
  • 商— to discuss, consult
  • 议— to discuss, deliberate

Antonyms

  • 粗— coarse, rough (opposite of polished)
  • 莽— rash, reckless (opposite of careful deliberation)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They polished the jade carefully (磋玉).
  • The committee will discuss the proposal (磋商提案).
  • We need to consult on the details (磋商细节).
  • Through repeated refinement (切磋琢磨).

Collocations

  • Consult and discuss(磋商)
  • Polish and grind(切磋)
  • Deliberate carefully(磋磨)
  • Mutual consultation(相互磋商)
  • Technical consultation(技术磋商)
  • Trade negotiations(贸易磋商)

Idioms

  • Cut, polish, carve, grind — to study and improve through mutual discussion(切磋琢磨)
  • Mutual consultation and discussion(互相磋商)
  • Repeated deliberation and refinement(反复磋磨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the process of polishing jade or stones in ancient craftsmanship.
  • Extended meaning of careful discussion and consultation, especially in formal or diplomatic contexts.
  • The idiom 切磋琢磨 comes from ancient texts describing the process of refining jade, stones, bones, and horns, metaphorically meaning mutual improvement through study and discussion.

FAQ