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琢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
琢zhuóto cut (gems)HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 王, rank #52229, Very Hard
琢zhuóto polish jade; to cut jadeHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 王, rank #52229, Very Hard
琢zuóto cut (gems)HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 王, rank #52229, Very Hard
琢zuóto polish jade; to cut jadeHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 王, rank #52229, Very Hard
zhuó(zhuo2)zhuo
primary
T2
  1. 1to cut (gems)
  2. 2to polish jade; to cut jade
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March 24, 2026

琢zhuó(zhuo2)

The verb 琢 (zhuó) means to cut or polish precious stones, particularly jade. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship and artistry, especially in traditional Chinese jade carving, where meticulous skill is required to shape and refine the material.

Strokes12Radical王Frequency#52229DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Jade holds significant cultural value in China, symbolizing purity and moral integrity. The process of 琢 (cutting and polishing jade) reflects the attention to detail and respect for materials that is foundational in traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

Memory Tip

Imagine a jeweler meticulously shaping a rough piece of jade into a beautiful gem. The character 琢 combines the radical for 'jade' (玉) with the action of cutting, reminding you that it's about transforming something raw into a refined piece of art. Think of the 'zhu' sound as the sound of a chisel striking jade.

Meanings of 琢

zhuó(zhuo2)
primary
1to cut (gems)
2to polish jade; to cut jade
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 琢 means.

About 琢

琢Simplified
12Strokes
王Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#52229Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 琢

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Podcast: 琢

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AI Study Notes for 琢

Quick Contrast

琢 (zhuó) vs 切 (qiē) — use 琢 when emphasizing the polishing or refining process of stones, while 切 focuses more on the act of cutting or slicing.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 琢, as it is often associated with formal craftsmanship rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include 琢磨 (to ponder or think deeply), which can lead to confusion with the pronunciation. Remember to use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 琢 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its relation to other words like 玉 (jade) and 琢磨 (to ponder) can be useful for learners at higher levels. Focus on the character's usage in artistic contexts for a deeper understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 琢 with 磨 due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我琢这个石头' (I will 琢 this stone) instead of the more appropriate '我磨这个石头' (I will磨 this stone) can lead to confusion about the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 琢

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Etymology of 琢

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

jade

Semantic (meaning)王
+
Phonetic (sound)豖
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

琢 = 王 + 豖. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 琢

IDS Structure⿰王豖
琢Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
豖chu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 琢?

How to say to cut (gems) in Chinese

“to cut (gems)” in Chinese is琢zhuó

The verb 琢 (zhuó) means to cut or polish precious stones, particularly jade. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship and artistry, especially in traditional Chinese jade carving, where meticulous skill is required to shape and refine the material.

When to use 琢

Be mindful of the context when using 琢, as it is often associated with formal craftsmanship rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include 琢磨 (to ponder or think deeply), which can lead to confusion with the pronunciation. Remember to use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

琢 or something close to it

琢 (zhuó) vs 切 (qiē) — use 琢 when emphasizing the polishing or refining process of stones, while 切 focuses more on the act of cutting or slicing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 琢 with 磨 due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我琢这个石头' (I will 琢 this stone) instead of the more appropriate '我磨这个石头' (I will磨 this stone) can lead to confusion about the intended meaning.

Write 琢

琢

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

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Grammar Patterns of 琢

琢 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我从不闲坐着____磨:“我接下来做什么呢?”

I never, ever sit around thinking, "What shall I do next?"

Example Sentences for 琢 (3)

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1
我从不闲坐着琢磨:“我接下来做什么呢?”

wǒ cóng bù xián zuò zháo zhuó mó:“ :“ wǒ jiē xià lái zuò shí mó?”

I never, ever sit around thinking, "What shall I do next?"
2
他这个人就爱在心里反复琢磨事儿。

tā zhè gè rén jiù ài zài xīn lǐ fǎn fù zhuó mó shì ér。

He tends to chew things over too much in his mind.
3
冬日琼装玉琢, 俏丽媚人.

dōng rì qióng zhuāng yù zhuó, , qiào lì mèi.

In winter, the wintry snow scenes can be likened to an exquisite jade carving.

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Word Family of 琢

Words Containing This Character4
琢磨zhuómóto ponder
雕琢to sculpt
琢zhuóto ponder
切磋琢磨lit. cutting and polishing (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 琢

What does 琢磨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 琢

While 琢 is primarily associated with jade, it can also refer to the cutting and polishing of other precious stones.

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