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刻字 (kè zì) — to carve characters (on seals, stone, etc.)

Definition

A specific activity verb meaning 'to carve characters' — typically on stone, seals, bamboo, or wood, as a craft or calligraphy practice. It is a verb-object compound (离合词) that can split: 刻一个字, 刻的字.

verb
to carve characters (on seals, stone, etc.)

Examples

  • 刻字。
    Tā xǐ huan zài shí tou shàng kè zì.
    He likes to carve characters on stones.
  • 。
    Tā zài yìn zhāng shàng kè le yí gè zì.
    He carved one character on the seal.
  • 刻字？
    Nǐ xué guò kè zì ma?
    Have you learned to carve characters?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

刻kècarve
字zìcharacters

刻 means to carve and 字 means characters, so the idea is carving characters onto a surface.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
Crafts & Handiwork

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