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剀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
剀kǎito sharpen; careful, thoroughx, 8 strokes, radical 刂
剀kǎicarefullyunknown, 8 strokes, radical 刂
剀kǎimoderatelyunknown, 8 strokes, radical 刂
kǎi(kai3) T3
  1. 1to sharpen; careful, thorough
  2. 2carefully
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

剀(剴)kǎi(kai3)

The character 剀 (kǎi) refers to the action of sharpening or making something more precise. It can also imply being careful or thorough in one's actions, suggesting a sense of moderation and attention to detail. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or formal contexts.

Strokes8Radical刂
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and meticulousness. The concept of being careful and thorough is highly valued, especially in traditional arts such as calligraphy and woodworking.

Memory Tip

Imagine a craftsman sharpening a blade with great care. The left radical 剁 (to chop) hints at the action of sharpening, while the sound 'kǎi' can be remembered by thinking of 'care' in 'careful'. Picture the craftsman ensuring every edge is perfect, embodying the essence of carefulness.

Meanings of 剀

kǎi(kai3)
1to sharpen; careful, thorough
2carefully
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 剀

剀Simplified
剴Traditional
8Strokes
刂Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 剀

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Podcast: 剀

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AI Study Notes for 剀

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 剀 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and less frequently used in casual conversation, so reserve it for contexts that require precision. Common collocations include phrases related to careful preparation or moderation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 剀 is not on the HSK list, it connects to HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to actions and qualities. Students should focus on understanding its nuanced meanings and how it can enhance descriptions of careful actions or processes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 剀 with similar characters like 开 (kāi, to open) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 剀 specifically relates to carefulness and sharpening, while 开 is about opening something.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 剀

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Etymology of 剀

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

knife

Semantic (meaning)刂
+
Phonetic (sound)岂
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 剀

  1. 1The meaning half刂 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half岂 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayknife
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 剀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 剀?

Decomposition of 剀

IDS Structure⿰岂刂
剀Full Character
=
岂kai3
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 剀?

How to say to sharpen; careful, thorough in Chinese

“to sharpen; careful, thorough” in Chinese is剀kǎi

The character 剀 (kǎi) refers to the action of sharpening or making something more precise. It can also imply being careful or thorough in one's actions, suggesting a sense of moderation and attention to detail. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or formal contexts.

When to use 剀

Be cautious not to confuse 剀 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and less frequently used in casual conversation, so reserve it for contexts that require precision. Common collocations include phrases related to careful preparation or moderation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 剀 with similar characters like 开 (kāi, to open) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 剀 specifically relates to carefulness and sharpening, while 开 is about opening something.

Write 剀

剀

Practice writing 剀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 剀

Words Containing This Character1
剀kǎicarefully剴
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 剀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 剀

Synonyms for 剀 include 小心 (xiǎoxīn, careful) and 细心 (xìxīn, meticulous).

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