磨刀 (mò dāo) — to sharpen a knife

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to sharpen a knife' by grinding it against a stone or steel. The object 刀 can split from 磨 for aspect, measure words, or 把-construction (把刀磨快).

verb
to sharpen a knife

Examples

  • 磨刀
    Bà ba zhèng zài chú fáng lǐ mò dāo.
    Dad is sharpening a knife in the kitchen.
  • Tā mó le sān cì dāo, zhōng yú bǎ dāo mó kuài le.
    He sharpened the knife three times and finally got it sharp.
  • 磨刀
    Zhè bǎ dāo tài dùn le, xū yào hǎo hǎo mò dāo.
    This knife is too dull; it needs a good sharpening.

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