凿 záo chisel
chisel; to bore; to bore a hole; irrefutable
How to remember 凿: 凵 pit + 丵 chisel head = chisel. The sculptor taps the chisel head with his hammer, and stone chips fall into a pit as he works with his favourite chisel.
Component breakdown
凿 = 凵 pit + 丵 chisel head
- 凵 pit
- 丵 chisel head
The sculptor taps the chisel head with his hammer, and stone chips fall into a pit as he works with his favourite chisel.
How it is used
- To chisel/bore through - 凿洞 (záo dòng) to chisel a hole, 开凿 (kāizáo) to cut/bore (a tunnel, canal).
- Figuratively 'solid, ironclad' - 确凿 (quèzáo) conclusive, irrefutable - 证据确凿 (zhèngjù quèzáo) the evidence is rock-solid.
- 凿凿 doubled = spoken with firm certainty (言之凿凿).