Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
硎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
硎xíngwhetstoneg, 11 strokes, radical 石
xíng(xing2) T2
  1. 1whetstone
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

硎xíng(xing2)

The character 硎 (xíng) refers to a whetstone, which is a tool used for sharpening blades or tools. It is commonly used in contexts involving maintenance of knives and other cutting instruments, emphasizing the importance of keeping tools sharp for efficiency and safety.

Strokes11Radical石
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the practice of maintaining tools, especially in traditional crafts like cooking or woodworking, is highly valued. The use of a whetstone is often associated with the philosophy of diligence and care in one's work.

Memory Tip

Think of 硎 as a 'sharp stone.' The radical 石 (shí) means 'stone,' and the form suggests a tool for honing sharpness. Imagine a craftsman sharpening a knife on a smooth stone, ensuring it is ready for precise work.

Meanings of 硎

xíng(xing2)
1whetstone
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 硎

硎Simplified
11Strokes
石Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 硎

JasonAmy

Podcast: 硎

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 硎

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 硎 with similar characters like 磨 (mó), which means 'to grind' rather than specifically 'to sharpen.' This term is more formal and is typically used in contexts involving tools or craftsmanship. Be mindful of the tone; incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 硎 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other words involving tools and maintenance. Students should focus on understanding the radicals and components to better grasp similar terms at this level, such as 针 (zhēn, needle) or 刀 (dāo, knife).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 硎 with 磨, mistakenly using 磨 when they mean to refer to the whetstone itself. For example, saying '我买了一个磨' (I bought a grind) instead of '我买了一个硎' (I bought a whetstone) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 硎

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 硎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 硎

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

stone

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 硎

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half刑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaystone
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 硎? 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 硎?

Decomposition of 硎

IDS Structure⿰石刑
硎Full Character
=
石dan4
left
刑Xing2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 硎?

How to say whetstone in Chinese

“whetstone” in Chinese is硎xíng

The character 硎 (xíng) refers to a whetstone, which is a tool used for sharpening blades or tools. It is commonly used in contexts involving maintenance of knives and other cutting instruments, emphasizing the importance of keeping tools sharp for efficiency and safety.

When to use 硎

Learners often confuse 硎 with similar characters like 磨 (mó), which means 'to grind' rather than specifically 'to sharpen.' This term is more formal and is typically used in contexts involving tools or craftsmanship. Be mindful of the tone; incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 硎 with 磨, mistakenly using 磨 when they mean to refer to the whetstone itself. For example, saying '我买了一个磨' (I bought a grind) instead of '我买了一个硎' (I bought a whetstone) is incorrect.

Write 硎

硎

Practice writing 硎 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 硎

Words Containing This Character1
硎xíngwhetstone
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 硎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 硎

You can say, '我需要一个硎来磨我的刀' (I need a whetstone to sharpen my knife).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 硎?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.