Definition
刻 (kè) is a versatile HSK3 word: as a classifier it means 'quarter (of an hour)' or 'a short moment'. As a verb it means 'to carve, engrave' — the general word for cutting letters or designs into a surface. For more artistic carving or sculpting (3D), Chinese uses 雕 (diāo), 雕刻 (diāo kè), or 雕塑 (diāo sù); 刻 is more everyday.
classifier
quarter (of an hour)a short moment
verb
to carveto engrave
Easily confused
- 咳kélook-aliketo cough
- 可kěsound-alike(adverb) used for emphasis: really, certainly, very
- 核hélook-alikepit, stone (of fruit)
- 克kèsound-alike(classifier) gram (unit of weight)
- 该gāilook-alike(modal verb) should, ought to; used to indicate strong necessity or likelihood
- 颗kēsound-alike(classifier) for small roundish objects such as pearls, grains, teeth, hearts, stars, satellites
- 课kèsound-alikeclass; lesson; subject; course
- 科kēsound-alike(noun) subject, discipline, field of study
- 棵kēsound-alike(classifier) for trees, cabbages, plants, and other growing vegetation
- 渴kěsound-alikethirsty
Examples
- 。Xiànzài shì yì diǎn yí kè.It is a quarter past one.
- 。Zhè yí kè hěn zhòngyào.This moment is very important.
- 刻。Tā zài mùtou shàng kè le yí gè zì.He carved a character on the wood.
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