刨 páo carpenter's plane
carpenter's plane; to dig
How to remember 刨: 包 parcel + 刂 knife = carpenter's plane. Grandpa opens the parcel with his pocket knife and lifts out the tool he has wanted for years, a shiny carpenter's plane.
Component breakdown
刨 = 包 parcel + 刂 knife
- 包 parcel
- 勹 wrap
- 巳 snake
- 刂 knife
Grandpa opens the parcel with his pocket knife and lifts out the tool he has wanted for years, a shiny carpenter's plane.
How it is used
- Two jobs by reading: páo = to dig/scrape out - 刨土 (páo tǔ) to dig up earth, 刨根问底 (páogēn-wèndǐ) to get to the bottom of things.
- bào = a carpenter's plane and to plane wood - 刨子 (bàozi) a plane, 刨光 to plane smooth.
- Context and reading decide: digging (páo) vs. wood-planing (bào).