削 xuē to pare
to pare; to scrape; to trim; to peel with a knife; to cut
How to remember 削: 肖 resemble + 刂 knife = to pare. Wanting the apple to resemble a swan, the chef takes his smallest knife and carefully begins to pare.
Component breakdown
削 = 肖 resemble + 刂 knife
- 肖 resemble
- 刂 knife
Wanting the apple to resemble a swan, the chef takes his smallest knife and carefully begins to pare.
How it is used
- Two readings. xiāo = to pare/peel with a knife in everyday use - 削苹果 (xiāo píngguǒ) to peel an apple, 削铅笔 (xiāo qiānbǐ) to sharpen a pencil.
- xuē = to cut down/reduce, in compounds - 削减 (xuējiǎn) to slash, 削弱 (xuēruò) to weaken, 剥削 (bōxuē) to exploit.
- Rule of thumb: literal peeling by hand = xiāo; abstract reduction in compounds = xuē.