琢 zuó to polish jade
How to remember 琢: 𤣩 king + 豖 tied pig = to polish jade. The old carver makes a little king and a tied pig for the museum shop, and it takes him a whole week to polish jade so fine.
Component breakdown
琢 = 𤣩 king + 豖 tied pig
- 𤣩 king
- 豖 tied pig
The old carver makes a little king and a tied pig for the museum shop, and it takes him a whole week to polish jade so fine.
How it is used
- To carve/polish jade, hence to work on/refine - 雕琢 (diāozhuó) to carve and polish, 精雕细琢 (jīngdiāo-xìzhuó) to craft with great care.
- 玉不琢，不成器 (yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì): unpolished jade makes no vessel - no growth without refinement. Read zuó in 琢磨 (zuómo): to turn over in one's mind / mull over.