锥 (zhuī) - Awl — a pointed tool for piercing holes & anything shaped like an awl

锥Tone 1

zhuī ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

志

锥 · zhuī

Awl — a pointed tool for piercing holes;

anything shaped like an awl;

to pierce or bore.

Awl — a pointed tool for piercing holesanything shaped like an awlto pierce or bore.

Usage highlights

AwlIce pick / IcicleHeartConical tipAwl and hairConical shape

Synonyms

  • 钻— drill, bore
  • 针— needle (for piercing)

Antonyms

  • 锤— hammer (blunt tool)
  • 钝— blunt, dull

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He used an awl to make holes in the leather (锥子).
  • The ice pick has a conical tip (冰锥).
  • She felt a sharp, stabbing pain (锥心之痛).
  • The team is at the forefront of technological innovation (处于科技创新的锥尖).

Collocations

  • Awl(锥子)
  • Ice pick / Icicle(冰锥)
  • Heart-piercing pain(锥心)
  • Conical tip(锥尖)
  • Awl and hair — minor talent(锥处囊中)
  • Conical shape(锥形)

Idioms

  • An awl in a bag — talent will show(锥处囊中)
  • To pierce the heart and scrape the bones — extreme pain or deep-seated hatred(锥心刺骨)
  • To stand out like an awl tip(脱颖而出)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically a common tool in leatherworking and carpentry.
  • Used metaphorically to describe something sharp, penetrating, or a minor talent that inevitably reveals itself.
  • Appears in classical texts like 'Records of the Grand Historian' to describe rising talent.

FAQ