刻 (kè) — (classifier) quarter (of an hour); a short moment; (verb) to carve, to engrave
Definition
At HSK 3, 刻 is mainly used as a time classifier: 一刻 = fifteen minutes / a quarter-hour. As a verb ('to carve, engrave'), 雕刻 (HSK 7) names the art form; this row is the everyday action verb.
classifier
quarter (of an hour)a short moment
verb
to carveto engrave
Examples
- 。Xiàn zài shì yì diǎn yí kè.It is a quarter past one.
- 。Zhè yí kè hěn zhòng yào.This moment is very important.
- 刻。Tā zài mù tou shàng kè le yí gè zì.He carved a character on the wood.
Grammar
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