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打磨 (dǎ mó) — to polish, to burnish; to refine (physically or figuratively)

Definition

打磨 is the process verb for physically polishing (wood, metal) and figuratively refining work (a script, skills). Pairs with 炼 and 提炼 when the focus is on smelting or distilling; 磨 is the single verb underneath it.

verb
to polishto burnishto refine (physically or figuratively)

Examples

  • 打磨。
    Tā yòng shā zhǐ bǎ zhuō miàn dǎ mó dé hěn guāng huá.
    He polished the desktop smooth with sandpaper.
  • 打磨。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng de jù běn hái xū yào zài dǎ mó yí xià.
    The script for this movie still needs some polishing.
  • 打磨，。
    Jīng guò duō nián dǎ mó, tā de jì yì yǐ jīng fēi cháng jīng zhàn.
    After years of honing, his skills are already exquisite.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

打dǎdo
磨mógrind

打 adds a general action sense, and 磨 adds grinding or polishing.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

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 7-9Industry & Manufacturing

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