(zhù) — to cast (metal); to found

Definition

铸 (zhù) means to cast or pour molten metal into a mold to make an object — a specialized manufacturing verb for metallurgy, not general 'make' (做) or 'build' (建造).

verb
to cast (metal)to found

Examples

  • Zhè zuò qīng tóng dǐng shì yòng gǔ dài jì shù zhù zào de.
    This bronze tripod was cast using ancient techniques.
  • Gōng chǎng néng zhù chū gè zhǒng guī gé de líng jiàn.
    The factory can cast parts of various specifications.
  • Zhè zūn tóng xiàng shì gōng jiàng men lián yè zhù chéng de.
    This bronze statue was cast overnight by the craftsmen.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鑄; 铸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
shòuzhù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 鑄 pairs 金 (metal) with 壽 to give the sound; the simplified 铸 is a later shorthand.

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