冶 yě to smelt
to smelt; to fuse metals; to cast
How to remember 冶: 冫 ice + 台 platform = to smelt. The student drops an ice cube on the glowing platform before the teacher shows the class how to smelt.
Component breakdown
冶 = 冫 ice + 台 platform
- 冫 ice
- 台 platform
- 厶 cocoon
- 口 mouth
The student drops an ice cube on the glowing platform before the teacher shows the class how to smelt.
How it is used
- To smelt metal - 冶金 (yějīn) metallurgy, 冶炼 (yěliàn) to smelt/refine ore.
- Figurative in 陶冶 (táoyě), to mould/cultivate character - 陶冶情操 to refine one's sensibilities, as ore is refined.
- Also 妖冶 (yāoyě), seductively glamorous - a rarer, older sense.