How to Write 镂 (lòu) — Meaning “To engrave; to carve”

Think of "lòu" sounding like "low" – you carve a low groove into a metal surface. The left radical 钅 reminds you of a metal tool, and you can imagine carving a pattern that looks like the right side 娄.

Start with the left 钅 radical (5 strokes: three horizontals, a vertical, then a hook). Then write the right side 娄 (9 strokes: 米 on top and 女 below, but the 米's bottom horizontal is omitted). Common mistakes include making the right side too tall or the left side too wide; keep the left narrow and the right balanced.

镂 (lòu) means to carve or engrave, removing material. 铓 (máng) means the sharp point of a knife, and 铸 (zhù) means to cast metal by pouring into a mold. Visually, 镂 has 娄 on the right, while 铓 has 亡 and 铸 has 寿, so they look different.

镂 is used in formal or artistic contexts, such as describing carved decorations or openwork designs. The word 镂空 is common in architecture and crafts, referring to hollowed-out patterns like those in jade carving or traditional paper-cutting. In Chinese culture, 镂空 techniques are highly valued for their intricate beauty.

Common words containing 镂 include: 镂空 (lòu kōng) — To hollow out; openwork; 雕镂 (diāo lòu) — To engrave; to carve; 镂刻 (lòu kè) — To engrave; to carve.