About
The Chinese word 锋利 is a compound formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing to the overall meaning. The first character, 锋 (fēng), primarily means "sharp point" or "blade", evoking the cutting edge of a weapon or tool. The second character, 利 (lì), means "sharp", "beneficial", or "advantageous". When combined, they create a word where both components semantically reinforce each other in the domain of sharpness, resulting in an adjective that means "sharp" or "keen", describing either a literal physical edge (like a knife) or a metaphorical quality (like a sharp mind or wit). This is a classic example of a coordinative compound, where two synonymous or related morphemes are paired to emphasize and refine a single concept.