拙 zhuō awkward
awkward; clumsy
How to remember 拙: 扌 hand + 出 go out = awkward. As the waiter tries to go out with the cake, he slips, and with one flailing hand he looks so awkward that everyone laughs.
Component breakdown
拙 = 扌 hand + 出 go out
- 扌 hand
- 出 go out
- 屮 sprout
- 凵 pit
As the waiter tries to go out with the cake, he slips, and with one flailing hand he looks so awkward that everyone laughs.
How it is used
- Clumsy/inept: 笨拙 (bènzhuō) awkward, 拙劣 (zhuōliè) crude and poor (of workmanship/tricks).
- As a humble self-reference: 拙作 (zhuōzuò) my poor/humble work, 拙见 (zhuōjiàn) my humble view.
- 勤能补拙 (qínnéngbǔzhuō) = diligence makes up for dullness.