Meanings of 削
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About 削
Podcast: 削
Podcast: 削
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AI Study Notes for 削
削 (xiāo) vs 切 (qiē) — use 削 for paring or peeling, while 切 is for cutting in general.
Be careful not to confuse 削 with 切 (qiē), which means 'to cut' more broadly and does not imply peeling or paring. The word can be used in both formal and informal settings, depending on the context, such as cooking or financial discussions. Common collocations include 削苹果 (xiāo píngguǒ) - to peel an apple.
As a HSK Level 6 word, 削 connects with other verbs that describe actions involving tools or processes, such as 切 (qiē - to cut) and 划 (huá - to scrape). Students should focus on using this word in context, especially in cooking or discussions about reduction.
Learners often confuse 削 with 切, using it incorrectly in contexts that don't involve peeling or trimming. For example, saying '我削面包' (wǒ xiāo miànbāo - I peel bread) is incorrect; instead, use '我切面包' (wǒ qiē miànbāo - I cut bread).
Pronunciation of 削
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Etymology of 削
Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 肖 represents the sound.
knife
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 削
Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 肖 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half刂 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half肖 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayknife
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 削? 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 削?
Decomposition of 削
Identify the Components
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How to say to peel with a knife in Chinese
“to peel with a knife” in Chinese is削
The character 削 (xiāo) primarily means 'to pare' or 'to peel' something with a knife. It can also refer to the act of reducing or trimming, making it applicable in both culinary and metaphorical contexts, such as reducing expenses or cutting down on excess. This character is commonly used in conjunction with objects that can be cut or trimmed.
When to use 削
Be careful not to confuse 削 with 切 (qiē), which means 'to cut' more broadly and does not imply peeling or paring. The word can be used in both formal and informal settings, depending on the context, such as cooking or financial discussions. Common collocations include 削苹果 (xiāo píngguǒ) - to peel an apple.
削 or something close to it
削 (xiāo) vs 切 (qiē) — use 削 for paring or peeling, while 切 is for cutting in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 削 with 切, using it incorrectly in contexts that don't involve peeling or trimming. For example, saying '我削面包' (wǒ xiāo miànbāo - I peel bread) is incorrect; instead, use '我切面包' (wǒ qiē miànbāo - I cut bread).
Write 削
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Practice writing 削 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 削
削 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
制造商之间的恶性价格战已将利润____减到了最低。
A vicious price war between manufacturers has cut margins to the bone.
Example Sentences for 削 (10)
Word Family of 削
Compound Meaning
What does 削 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 削
You can say 削皮 (xiāo pí) for 'to peel' or 削减 (xiāo jiǎn) for 'to reduce'.
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