Definitions

bēn adz; adze

Etymology phono-semantic

metal

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

(bēn), traditional form , is an adze, a woodworking hand tool with a blade set at a right angle to the handle, used for shaping and smoothing wood. It is a phono-semantic compound: the metal radical (traditional , jīn) indicates a metal tool, while the phonetic (bēn), which means 'to run, rush' on its own, solely supplies the pronunciation. The character's use remains technical, confined to carpentry, agriculture, and traditional crafts, without metaphorical meanings.