How to Write 锷 (è) — Meaning “blade edge (of a sword)”

Imagine a metal sword (钅) with a row of sharp teeth (咢) along its edge — those teeth are the "blade edge." This visual of a sword biting into things helps link the character to its meaning of a sword's cutting edge.

The left side 钅 is narrow and takes up about one-third of the character; its final stroke (一横) should be slightly angled upward. The right side 咢 has two mouths stacked — write the top 口 smaller and the bottom 口 wider, and ensure all horizontal strokes are parallel.

锷 (è) means the edge of a blade, while 铸 (zhù) means to cast or forge metal. Visually, 锷 has 钅 + 咢 (eight strokes on the right), whereas 铸 has 钅 + 寿 (with a longer, more complex right side). They share the metal radical but differ completely in meaning.

锷 is not common in daily conversation but appears in literary or martial-arts contexts describing swords, such as 剑锷 (sword edge). It is also used in formal descriptions of weapon parts, like the crossguard called 剑格 or 锷部. Culturally, it evokes the sharp, precise image of a finely crafted blade.

Common words containing 锷 include: 剑锷 (jiàn è) — Sword edge / Crossguard; 锋锷 (fēng è) — Edge of a sword or blade; 锷部 (è bù) — the blade/edge part.