About
The simplified character 刿 (guì), equivalent to traditional 劌, is a phono-semantic compound: it combines the semantic radical 刂 (dāo, 'knife' or 'sword') indicating cutting, with the phonetic 岁 (suì), a simplification of 歲, which supplies the pronunciation. Its primary meaning is to cut, gash, or pierce with a sharp blade, but over time its use has become highly restricted to formal and classical literature, appearing now mostly in historical names and fixed idioms rather than as a common verb for cutting.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.