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锼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锼sōuto carvezg, 14 strokes, radical 钅
锼sōuto engrave (metal of wood)unknown, 14 strokes, radical 钅
sōu(sou1)sou T1
  1. 1to carve
  2. 2to engrave (metal of wood)
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March 24, 2026

锼(鎪)sōu(sou1)

The character 锼 (sōu) refers to the act of carving or engraving materials such as metal or wood. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship and artistry, particularly in traditional Chinese arts. This character conveys a sense of precision and skill in creating detailed designs or inscriptions on surfaces.

Strokes14Radical钅
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, engraving and carving are highly respected skills, often seen in the creation of calligraphic works and decorative items. The art of carving has deep historical roots, reflecting the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese heritage.

Memory tip

Imagine a skilled craftsman using a special tool (the '刀' radical) to carve intricate designs into a piece of metal. The sound 'sōu' can be remembered by picturing the sound of the tool scraping as it engraves, emphasizing the meticulous nature of the work.

Meanings of 锼

sōu(sou1)
1to carve
2to engrave (metal of wood)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 锼

锼Simplified
鎪Traditional
14Strokes
钅Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 锼

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AI study notes for 锼

Usage Notes

This character is often used in a more formal context related to art and craftsmanship rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '雕刻' (diāokè, to sculpt) and '刻印' (kèyìn, to engrave), which may help learners remember its nuanced meaning. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing 'sōu' can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 锼 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to the theme of craftsmanship found in HSK levels 4 and above. Students should focus on recognizing and using it in context with other related terms like '雕刻' and '工艺' (gōngyì, craftsmanship).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锼 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with '搜' (sōu, to search) can result in misunderstandings; remember that 锼 relates specifically to carving and engraving.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锼

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Etymology of 锼

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

metal

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

Origin

锼 = 钅 + 叟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 锼

IDS Structure⿰钅叟
锼Full character
=
钅jin1
left
叟sou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 锼?

How to say to carve in Chinese

“to carve” in Chinese is锼sōu

The character 锼 (sōu) refers to the act of carving or engraving materials such as metal or wood. It is commonly used in contexts involving craftsmanship and artistry, particularly in traditional Chinese arts. This character conveys a sense of precision and skill in creating detailed designs or inscriptions on surfaces.

When to use 锼

This character is often used in a more formal context related to art and craftsmanship rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '雕刻' (diāokè, to sculpt) and '刻印' (kèyìn, to engrave), which may help learners remember its nuanced meaning. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing 'sōu' can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锼 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with '搜' (sōu, to search) can result in misunderstandings; remember that 锼 relates specifically to carving and engraving.

Write 锼

锼

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

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Word Family of 锼

Words containing this character1
锼sōuto engrave (metal of wood)鎪

Frequently asked questions about 锼

锼 can refer to carving or engraving both metal and wood, making it versatile for various artistic applications.

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