砌 qì to pile up
to pile up; to build
How to remember 砌: 石 stone + 切 to cut = to pile up. Each stone must fit, so Grandpa takes his chisel to cut its edges before he starts to pile up the garden wall.
Component breakdown
砌 = 石 stone + 切 to cut
- 石 stone
- 切 to cut
- 七 seven
- 刀 knife
Each stone must fit, so Grandpa takes his chisel to cut its edges before he starts to pile up the garden wall.
How it is used
- To lay (bricks/stones) with mortar - 砌墙 (qì qiáng) to build a wall, 砌砖 (qì zhuān) to lay bricks.
- 堆砌 (duīqì) literally means to pile up, but figuratively to pile on empty ornament: 堆砌辞藻 (duīqì cízǎo) to stuff writing with flowery but hollow phrases.