雕 (diāo) - To carve & to engrave

雕Tone 1

diāo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

雕 · diāo

To carve;

to engrave;

an eagle;

to decorate;

to polish;

to depict;

to sculpt.

To carveto engravean eagle

Usage highlights

To carveEagleSculptureCarving knifeTo depict meticulouslyIce sculpture

Synonyms

  • 刻— to carve; to engrave
  • 塑— to model; to sculpt
  • 鹰— eagle (more common term for the bird)

Antonyms

  • 糙— coarse; rough (opposite of finely carved)
  • 简— simple; brief (opposite of ornate)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He carved a statue from wood (雕刻木雕).
  • The eagle soared high in the sky (雕在空中翱翔).
  • She is skilled at ice carving (冰雕).
  • The room was decorated with intricate carvings (雕饰).

Collocations

  • To carve(雕刻)
  • Eagle(雕)
  • Sculpture(雕塑)
  • Carving knife(雕刀)
  • To depict meticulously(雕琢)
  • Ice sculpture(冰雕)

Idioms

  • Carve a boat to seek a sword(刻舟求雕)
  • Carve insects and engrave seals(雕虫篆刻)
  • Meticulously carved and intricately engraved(雕镂刻琢)
  • Carve ice and sculpt jade(雕冰镂玉)
  • Carve a dragon and paint a phoenix(雕龙画凤)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with craftsmanship and artistry, particularly in jade, wood, and stone carving.
  • The character also represents the eagle, a symbol of power, vision, and nobility in Chinese culture.
  • Used in idioms to describe meticulous work or excessive ornamentation, sometimes with a negative connotation of being overly elaborate.

FAQ