What is the core meaning of 礪?

It primarily means 'whetstone' and, by extension, 'to sharpen' or 'to hone,' both literally and metaphorically for skills or character.

Is 礪 commonly used in modern Chinese names?

No, it is quite rare in contemporary given names, though it may appear in classical or literary contexts.

How is 礪 different from 磨?

Both can mean to grind or sharpen. 礪 often carries a more formal, literary, or metaphorical tone, especially in idioms about self-improvement, while 磨 is more general and common.

礪Tone 4

lì ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

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礪 · lì

Whetstone;

to sharpen;

to hone;

to refine or improve through practice.

Whetstoneto sharpento hone

Usage highlights

WhetstoneTo hone one's skillsTo encourage and improveTo temper and strengthenTo sharpen a knifeTo refine one's character

Synonyms

磨— to grind; to polish
砺石— whetstone

Usage & contexts

Examples

He sharpened the sword on a whetstone (磨刀石).
They honed their skills through diligent practice (磨砺).
The company strives to refine its products (砥砺前行).

Collocations

Whetstone(砺石)
To hone one's skills(磨砺)
To encourage and improve(砥砺)
To temper and strengthen(淬砺)
To sharpen a knife(砺刀)
To refine one's character(砺行)

Idioms

To temper and refine oneself through hardship(砥砺前行)
To sharpen weapons and feed the horses(砺兵秣马)
To hone one's will(砺志)
To sharpen on a whetstone(砥砺琢磨)

Cultural background

FAQ

Historically associated with the process of sharpening tools and weapons, a metaphor for self-improvement.
Used in classical texts to describe the cultivation of virtue and talent through persistent effort.
Common in motivational contexts, emphasizing the value of hardship in personal development.

礪 (lì) - Whetstone & to sharpen