鍥 (qiè) - To carve & to engrave

鍥Tone 4

qiè ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

鍥 · qiè

To carve;

to engrave;

to chisel;

to cut;

to inscribe;

to be persistent and unremitting.

To carveto engraveto chisel

Usage highlights

To carve and inscribeTo chisel and carveTo carve charactersTo carve a sealTo engrave on metal or stonePerseverance

Synonyms

  • 刻— to carve; to engrave
  • 雕— to carve; to sculpt
  • 镂— to engrave; to carve

Antonyms

  • 磨— to polish; to smooth (opposite of carving)
  • 弃— to abandon; to give up (opposite of perseverance)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The artisan carved patterns on the jade (鍥刻图案).
  • He engraved his name on the stone (鍥名字于石上).
  • We need to persevere in our studies (学习要鍥而不舍).
  • The sculptor chiseled the marble block (鍥凿大理石).

Collocations

  • To carve and inscribe(鍥刻)
  • To chisel and carve(鍥凿)
  • To carve characters(鍥字)
  • To carve a seal(鍥印)
  • To engrave on metal or stone(金石可鍥)
  • Perseverance(鍥而不舍)

Idioms

  • Perseverance leads to success(鍥而不舍，金石可镂)
  • Carve without stopping(鍥而不舍)
  • Carve the boat to seek the sword (刻舟求剑) - Note: This idiom uses 刻 but shares the carving meaning

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the action of carving or engraving on hard materials like metal, stone, or jade.
  • The character embodies the cultural value of persistence and meticulous craftsmanship.
  • In ancient China, carving was an important skill for creating seals, inscriptions, and decorative arts.
  • The philosophical concept of 'carving without stopping' represents the virtue of perseverance.

FAQ