Definitions

(verb) to knock; to tap (against something hard)
(verb) to crack (seeds with teeth)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Composed of the semantic radical "石" for stone and the phonetic component "盍", the character "磕" initially denoted the sound or action of hard objects like stones striking together, reflecting its etymological roots in physical collision. From this concrete origin, its meaning expanded to include various forms of knocking or bumping, as well as the ceremonial act of kowtowing where the forehead contacts the ground. Subsequent developments saw the character applied to casual contexts such as cracking seeds between the teeth, and in contemporary vernacular, it has been adapted to express enthusiastic devotion to ideas or pairings, as in the internet term "磕CP". Thus, while the character's fundamental association with impact remains, its usage has evolved to cover both literal and figurative realms of contact and engagement.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的头到了墙。

Wǒ de tóu kē dào le qiáng.

My head bumped into the wall.

弟弟破了膝盖。

Dìdi kē pò le xīgài.

My younger brother scraped his knee.

绊绊地读完了课文。

Tā kēkēbànbàn de dú wán le kèwén.

He stumbled through reading the text aloud.

小孩头向长辈拜年。

Xiǎohái kētóu xiàng zhǎngbèi bàinián.

The child kowtows to elders to offer New Year greetings.

路上碰碰是常事。

Lùshang kēkēpèngpèng shì cháng shì.

Bumps and knocks on the road are common occurrences.

他不小心掉了牙齿。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn kē diào le yáchǐ.

He accidentally knocked out his tooth.

这段山路得我脚疼。

Zhè duàn shānlù kē de wǒ jiǎo téng.

This mountain path made my feet sore from all the jolting.

生活中难免会遇到绊。

Shēnghuó zhōng nánmiǎn huì yù dào kēbàn.

In life, it is inevitable to encounter setbacks.