镀 (dù) - To plate, to gild, to coat with a

镀Tone 4

dù ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

镀 · dù

To plate, to gild, to coat with a thin layer of metal (especially gold or silver).

To plate, to gild, to coat with a

Usage highlights

Gold platingSilver platingChrome platingZinc platingNickel platingElectroplating

Synonyms

  • 镀金— Gold plating (as a process)
  • 电镀— Electroplating

Antonyms

  • 剥— To peel, to strip (opposite of coating)
  • 蚀— To corrode, to erode (opposite of adding a protective layer)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ring is gold-plated (镀金).
  • They electroplated the part with chromium (镀铬).
  • Silver plating gives it a shiny finish (镀银).
  • The process of galvanization is a type of plating (镀锌).

Collocations

  • Gold plating(镀金)
  • Silver plating(镀银)
  • Chrome plating(镀铬)
  • Zinc plating(镀锌)
  • Nickel plating(镀镍)
  • Electroplating(电镀)

Idioms

  • Gilding the lily — unnecessary adornment(画蛇添足 — though not directly using 镀, conceptually related)
  • To gild refined gold — over-embellishment(锦上添花 — conceptually related to adding a surface layer)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with metalworking and decorative arts, especially in jewelry and ceremonial objects.
  • In modern contexts, often relates to industrial processes and manufacturing.
  • The term '镀金' (gold-plated) can metaphorically describe superficial enhancement or gilding one's credentials.

FAQ