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琢磨 (zuó mo) — to ponder; to mull over; to think through

Definition

琢磨 (zuó mo) is a colloquial verb for mulling something over, often a plan, idea, or problem. Lighter and more everyday than 思考 or 沉思, which lean toward formal, deep reflection.

verb
to ponderto mull overto think through

Examples

  • 琢磨。
    Nǐ zài zuó mo yí xià zhè ge fāng àn.
    Think through this plan again.
  • 琢磨。
    Tā zhèng zài zuó mo nà jiàn shì.
    He is pondering that matter.
  • 琢磨。
    Wǒ men xū yào zuó mo rú hé jiě jué wèn tí.
    We need to think through how to solve the problem.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

琢zhuócarve; polish
磨mógrind; polish

琢 and 磨 suggest carving and polishing, so 琢磨 pictures turning an idea over in the mind.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𤣩Written in full as玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
豖
豖chù琢zhuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

琢 is made from 𤣩 (jade, written 玉 in full) and 豖, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
靡
靡mí磨mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磨 combines 石, showing rock, with 靡 for the sound.

Open 磨 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

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