How to Write 锓 (qǐn) — Meaning “To engrave / to carve”

Imagine a metal tool (钅) "invading" (侵) a surface to carve letters or patterns. The word "invade" sounds like the pinyin qǐn. This helps you connect the shape to the meaning of engraving.

Write the left radical 钅 first (5 strokes: left-falling, horizontal, horizontal, horizontal, vertical-rising). Then write the right side 侵 (7 strokes: person radical 亻, then a roof shape 冖, then 又). Make sure the right component is balanced and not too wide.

钰 (yù) has a jade radical 玉 on the right and means "treasure" or "hard metal," not engraving. 钱 (qián) has a simpler right side 戋 and means "money" or "coin." 锓 uses the complex right side 侵 and specifically refers to carving or engraving, not to treasure or currency.

锓 is quite rare in everyday modern Chinese. It appears mostly in historical or technical contexts related to printmaking, such as 锓版 (engraving a printing block) or 锓木 (wood carving). You might encounter it in discussions of traditional Chinese block printing or art restoration.

Common words containing 锓 include: 锓版 (qǐn bǎn) — To engrave a printing block; 锓刻 (qǐn kè) — To engrave / to carve; 锓木 (qǐn mù) — To carve on wood.