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The character for inkstone, traditionally written as "硯" and simplified to "砚", is structured as a semantic-phonetic compound with the radical "石" denoting its stone material and the component "見" or its simplified form "见" serving as a phonetic indicator. Etymologically, this construction directly points to the object's function as a stone slab for grinding ink in writing practices. The character's meaning has consistently referred to this specific tool, with its core association unchanged through various stylistic adjustments to its form, which involved streamlining the phonetic element while preserving the semantic radical.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是我的砚台。
我的砚台很旧了。
他买了一方新砚台。
爷爷的书桌上摆着笔和砚。
这方石砚的质地非常细腻。
他在砚台里慢慢地研墨。
同学们在书法课上练习使用砚台。
作为文房四宝之一，砚有着悠久的历史。