About
The character 劂 (jué) is a phono-semantic compound related to carving and craftsmanship. Its right side features the knife radical 刂 (dāo), indicating a connection to cutting tools or slicing actions, while the left component 厥 (jué) provides the pronunciation. Historically, it has referred to a chisel or engraving tool used by artisans for carving wood, stone, or printing blocks. As a verb, it denotes the action of gouging or engraving, often appearing in classical contexts about woodblock printing and seal carving.