锉 (cuò) — (noun) file (tool for smoothing); (verb) to file (to smooth with a file)
Definition
锉 (cuò) is a separable verb–noun pair: the noun is the hand tool (a file, measured with 把), and the verb is the action of smoothing metal or wood with it. Negation is uncommon; it is a concrete craft/industrial word.
noun
file (tool for smoothing)
verb
to file (to smooth with a file)
Measure word · 把
Examples
- 锉。Wǒ mǎi le yì bǎ xīn cuò.I bought a new file.
- 锉。Tā yòng cuò bǎ mù bǎn mó píng le.He smoothed the wood board with a file.
- 锉。Zhè kuài jīn shǔ xū yào cuò yí xià.This piece of metal needs to be filed.
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 銼; 锉 is its simplified writing.
The traditional form 銼 combines 金 (metal) with 坐, which gives the sound; the simplified 锉 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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