雕 (diāo) — to carve, to engrave
Definition
雕 is a more literary, artistic word for 'to carve/engrave' (stone, jade, wood — fine art), broader in material than 刻, which suits everyday carving. The compound 雕刻 is the standard modern verb.
verb
to carveto engrave
Examples
- 雕。Tā zài mù bǎn shàng diāo le yì duǒ huā.He carved a flower on the wooden board.
- 雕。Zhè kuài yù kě yǐ diāo chéng yí gè xiǎo dòng wù.This piece of jade can be carved into a small animal.
- 雕。Nà wèi yì shù jiā shàn cháng diāo shí tou.That artist is good at carving stone.
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.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuī
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu雕diāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
雕 pairs 隹, a bird radical, with 周, which supplies the sound.
Appears in
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