Meanings of 斲
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About 斲
Podcast: 斲
Podcast: 斲
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AI Study Notes for 斲
斩 (zhǎn) - use 斲 for chopping or hacking wood, while 斩 refers specifically to cutting or beheading with a blade.
斲 is generally used in more formal contexts related to woodworking or forestry. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar characters, such as 切 (qiē), which means 'to cut' in a more general sense. Be mindful of the different contexts in which each term is appropriate.
While 斲 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to the broader theme of actions involving cutting or shaping materials, which can be seen in other HSK words. Students should focus on recognizing how this word fits into discussions about tools and manual labor.
Learners often confuse 斲 with the more general 切, leading to sentences like '我斲一个苹果' (I chop an apple), which is incorrect. The correct phrase should use 切: '我切一个苹果.'
Pronunciation of 斲
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Etymology of 斲
To chop 斤 a tree trunk
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 斲
- 1The giveawayTo chop 斤 a tree trunk
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 斲? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 斲?
Decomposition of 斲
Identify the Components
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How to say to chop, to hack; to cut wood in Chinese
“to chop, to hack; to cut wood” in Chinese is斲
The character 斲 (zhuó) means 'to chop' or 'to hack,' particularly in the context of cutting wood. It is often used to describe the action of using an axe or similar tool to fell trees or break down wooden materials. This term conveys a sense of forceful and deliberate action.
When to use 斲
斲 is generally used in more formal contexts related to woodworking or forestry. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar characters, such as 切 (qiē), which means 'to cut' in a more general sense. Be mindful of the different contexts in which each term is appropriate.
斲 or something close to it
斩 (zhǎn) - use 斲 for chopping or hacking wood, while 斩 refers specifically to cutting or beheading with a blade.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 斲 with the more general 切, leading to sentences like '我斲一个苹果' (I chop an apple), which is incorrect. The correct phrase should use 切: '我切一个苹果.'
Write 斲
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Practice writing 斲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 斲
Compound Meaning
What does 斫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 斲
The pinyin for 斲 is 'zhuó.' Make sure to use the second tone, which is a rising tone, and remember to pronounce it with a clear 'zh' sound.
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