Chinese Character: 刻
1. Character Basics
Radical: 刂 (knife radical)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: kè
3. Meaning
English meaning: carve, engrave, cut, moment, quarter (of an hour)
4. Common Words
- 刻苦 (kè kǔ) - hardworking, assiduous
- 立刻 (lì kè) - immediately, at once
- 时刻 (shí kè) - moment, time
- 刻度 (kè dù) - scale, graduation
- 雕刻 (diāo kè) - carve, sculpture
5. Grammar & Usage
Usage notes:
- 作为动词，表示用工具雕刻或切割：刻印章。(Carve a seal.)
- 作为名词，表示时间的片刻：这一刻。(This moment.)
- 作为副词，表示立即：立刻行动。(Act immediately.)
- 与其他字组合成词，表示各种不同的含义
- 常见结构：刻+物品、刻+时间词、立刻+动词
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, carving has a long history and deep significance. Traditional Chinese carving techniques include jade carving, wood carving, and stone carving, which are considered important art forms. The character "刻" also appears in idioms like "刻骨铭心" (kè gǔ míng xīn), meaning deeply engraved in one's heart, describing something unforgettable.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 他刻苦学习，终于考上了大学。
Pinyin: Tā kèkǔ xuéxí, zhōngyú kǎoshàng le dàxué.
English: He studied hard and finally got into university.
8. Memory Tips
Mnemonic: The character "刻" has "亥" (the 12th Earthly Branch) on the left and "刂" (knife) on the right. Imagine someone using a knife (刂) to carve (刻) patterns on a piece of wood during the time of "亥" (9-11 PM).