锼 (sōu) - To carve & to engrave

锼Tone 1

sōu ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

锼 · sōu

To carve;

to engrave;

to chisel;

to file;

to wear away by friction;

also refers to a type of carving tool.

To carveto engraveto chisel

Usage highlights

Carve patternsEngrave charactersFile metalWear awayCarving knifeCarving technique

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

  • 磨— to polish; to sharpen (opposite of wearing away in some contexts)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The artisan carves intricate patterns (雕刻图案).
  • He used a file to smooth the metal edge (锉平金属边缘).
  • The wood was worn away by the elements (木头被风雨侵蚀).
  • This is a specialized carving tool (这是一种专门的雕刻工具).

Collocations

  • Carve patterns(雕刻花纹)
  • Engrave characters(雕刻文字)
  • File metal(锉金属)
  • Wear away(侵蚀)
  • Carving knife(雕刻刀)
  • Carving technique(雕刻技艺)

Idioms

  • Carving insects and engraving seals(雕虫篆刻)
  • Carve bones and inscribe muscles(刻骨铭肌)
  • Carve a boat to seek a sword(刻舟求剑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with traditional Chinese crafts like jade carving, wood carving, and seal engraving.
  • The character reflects the importance of meticulous craftsmanship in Chinese cultural heritage.
  • Used metaphorically to describe something that is carefully crafted or meticulously detailed.

FAQ