钻 (zuān) — to drill, to bore (a hole); to study intensively, to dig into (a topic); to curry favor, to worm one's way into (for personal gain)
Definition
钻 (zuān) has two main meanings: physically drilling a hole (similar to 凿), and figuratively digging into a topic (as in 钻研). The "curry favor" sense (钻营) refers to worming one's way in for personal gain.
verb
to drillto bore (a hole)to study intensivelyto dig into (a topic)to curry favorto worm one's way into (for personal gain)
Examples
- 钻。Gōng rén yòng jī qì zài dì shàng zuān le yí gè shēn kǒng.The worker drilled a deep hole in the ground with a machine.
- 钻。Tā zhěng tiān zuān zài tú shū guǎn lǐ kàn shū.He spends all day digging into books in the library.
- 钻，。Tā zǒng xiǎng zuān yíng, cóng bú tā shi gōng zuò.He's always trying to curry favor and never works steadily.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 鑽; 钻 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
贊
贊zàn鑽zuàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 鑽 pairs 釒 (metal) with 贊, which gives the sound; the simplified 钻 is a later shorthand.
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