鈍 (dùn) - Dull & blunt

鈍Tone 4

dùn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

鈍 · dùn

Dull;

blunt;

slow-witted;

stupid;

not sharp.

Dullbluntslow-witted

Usage highlights

Dull knifeSlowBlunt weaponDull painStupid and honestBlunt angle

Synonyms

  • 笨— stupid, foolish
  • 拙— clumsy, awkward
  • 愚— foolish, silly

Antonyms

  • 利— sharp, keen
  • 敏— quick, agile
  • 锐— sharp, acute

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The knife is too blunt to cut (钝刀).
  • He is slow-witted (迟钝).
  • A dull pain (钝痛).
  • The axe has a blunt edge (斧头钝了).

Collocations

  • Dull knife(钝刀)
  • Slow-witted(迟钝)
  • Blunt weapon(钝器)
  • Dull pain(钝痛)
  • Stupid and honest(愚钝)
  • Blunt angle(钝角)

Idioms

  • To sharpen a blunt knife(磨钝刀子)
  • Slow-witted and clumsy(钝口拙腮)
  • To sharpen a blunt instrument to make it serviceable again(砺世摩钝)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, sharpness is often associated with intelligence and wit, while dullness is its opposite.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing weapons, tools, and mental faculties.
  • In mathematics, 钝角 (dùn jiǎo) refers to an obtuse angle.

FAQ