How to Write 锉 (cuò) — Meaning “File (tool); to file”

Picture a metal file (钅) sitting (坐) on a table. Imagine the file's rough surface scraping against a piece of wood. The idea of 'sitting' helps you recall the right side.

First write the metal radical 钅 (5 strokes), then the right part 坐 (7 strokes). In 坐, write the two 人 components on top, then the bottom 土. A common mistake is making the top part too wide or forgetting that the left stroke of the top 人 should be slightly shorter than the right.

钰 (yù) means 'treasure' or 'hard metal' and contains 玉 (jade), while 钱 (qián) means 'money' or 'coin' and contains 戋. All three have the metal radical, but 锉 specifically refers to a filing tool or the action of filing, not treasure or money.

锉 is used for the metal tool called a file (锉刀) and the action of filing (锉平), like smoothing rough edges. You'll see it in hardware stores or DIY contexts, and 指甲锉 means 'nail file' – a common item in nail care kits.

Common words containing 锉 include: 锉刀 (cuò dāo) — File (tool); 锉平 (cuò píng) — To file down; to smooth with a file; 指甲锉 (zhǐ jiǎ cuò) — nail file.