About
锲 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left radical, 钅 (jīn), indicates a connection to metal tools or blades, while the right component, 契 (qì), provides the phonetic element. The traditional form is 鍥, using the full metal radical 金. Its primary meaning refers to the act of carving, engraving, or cutting into a hard surface with a metallic tool; it also historically denoted a sickle. The character is best known from idioms illustrating perseverance, where the continuous carving of wood or stone metaphorically represents unwavering persistence in the face of a difficult task.
Etymology Hide
