HSK · Level 116
45 words
Chinese word
凿
Pronunciation
Pinyinzáo
Meaning
- verbcarve
Example
他在树上用刀凿了一个小窝。tā zài shù shàng yòng dāo záo le yí gè xiǎo wō
He carved a small hollow in the tree with a knife.
More examples
木匠用凿子在板上凿出一个凹槽。mù jiàng yòng záo zi zài bǎn shàng záo chū yí gè āo cáo
The carpenter used a chisel to carve out a groove in a board.
Core concept
Work into a hard surface by repeated blows or scraping, producing a deliberate hollow, opening, or shape.
Common phrases
凿出záo chū
carve out
用刀凿yòng dāo záo
carve with a knife
Similar words
挖wā: Dig out soil or soft material by hand or with a shovel to form a hole or trench.
钻zuān: Use a rotating tool to bore a circular hole or a passage through material.
刻kè: Cut letters or decorative patterns into a material's surface with a sharp tool.
雕diāo: Shape material by cutting away parts of it to form a figure or other three-dimensional object.
Definition in Chinese
用工具（如凿子、刀或锥子）在硬物上刨削或打出孔、凹陷yòng gōng jù rú záo zi dāo huò zhuī zi zài yìng wù shàng páo xuē huò dǎ chū kǒng āo xiàn
Word origin
The traditional form 鑿 (záo, "chisel") referred to the tool itself, and the word later extended naturally from the tool to the work performed with it.
Usage tips
- For general daily conversation, the verb can sound specialized, while it remains natural in accounts of carpentry, stonework, and repairs.