刻

kè

亥 + 刂

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

kè (verb) to carve; to engrave; to cut

kè (noun) quarter (hour); moment

kè (adjective) oppressive

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

Semantic: 刂 Phonetic: 亥

About

刻 is a phonosemantic compound: the knife radical 刂 on the right represents the meaning 'to cut', and the component 亥 on the left represents the sound. The original meaning was to carve or engrave marks into hard materials such as wood, stone, or jade. Over time, because ancient water clocks used precisely carved markings to measure time, the character came to denote a quarter of an hour or a brief moment.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请立刻告诉我。

Qǐng lìkè gàosu wǒ.

Please tell me immediately.

这个时刻很重要。

Zhège shíkè hěn zhòngyào.

This moment is very important.

他学习很刻苦。

Tā xuéxí hěn kèkǔ.

He studies very hard.

她在木头上刻字。

Tā zài mùtou shàng kè zì.

She engraves characters on wood.

此刻，我们正在开会。

Cǐkè, wǒmen zhèngzài kāihuì.

At this moment, we are having a meeting.

雕刻家正在雕刻一座雕像。

Diāokèjiā zhèngzài diāokè yí zuò diāoxiàng.

The sculptor is carving a statue.

他对时间的要求很刻板。

Tā duì shíjiān de yāoqiú hěn kèbǎn.

His requirements for time are very rigid.

深刻的理解需要时间。

Shēnkè de lǐjiě xūyào shíjiān.

Deep understanding requires time.

Related Characters

Component: 亥

Component: 刂

刻