砥

dǐ

氐 + 石

Definitions

dǐ baffle (pier); whetstone

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 氐 represents the sound.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 氐

About

砥 is a phonosemantic compound: 石 'stone' provides the meaning, while 氐 indicates the sound. It originally designated a fine-grained whetstone used for sharpening tools and polishing surfaces to a smooth finish. The whetstone's flat, stable face made it ideal for grinding. From this concrete sense, the character's use extended metaphorically to the refinement of character or moral discipline (e.g., 砥礪), and to describe a path or road as level and smooth as a whetstone.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

砥砺意志很重要。

Dǐlì yìzhì hěn zhòngyào.

Tempering will is important.

这块砥石用于磨刀。

Zhè kuài dǐshí yòng yú módāo.

This whetstone is used for sharpening knives.

他在工作中不断砥砺自己。

Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng bùduàn dǐlì zìjǐ.

He constantly tempers himself in his work.

砥砺技能可以提高竞争力。

Dǐlì jìnéng kěyǐ tígāo jìngzhēnglì.

Honing skills can improve competitiveness.

只有砥砺前行，才能实现梦想。

Zhǐyǒu dǐlì qiánxíng, cáinéng shíxiàn mèngxiǎng.

Only by forging ahead can one achieve dreams.

人生的磨难砥砺了他的性格。

Rénshēng de mónàn dǐlì le tā de xìnggé.

The hardships of life tempered his character.

在逆境中砥砺意志，是成功的关键。

Zài nìjìng zhōng dǐlì yìzhì, shì chénggōng de guānjiàn.

Tempering will in adversity is the key to success.

通过持续砥砺心智，他克服了所有困难。

Tōngguò chíxù dǐlì xīnzhì, tā kèfú le suǒyǒu kùnnán.

By continuously tempering his mind, he overcame all difficulties.

Related Characters

Component: 氐

Component: 石

砥