How to Write 锥 (zhuī) — Meaning “Awl / Cone”

Imagine a metal awl (钅) shaped like a bird's beak (隹) poking through a piece of cloth. The bird component 隹 looks like a small bird with a sharp beak, and the metal radical reminds you it's a tool. This image helps you link the form to the meaning of a sharp pointed object.

The left radical 钅 must be written narrower than the right side 隹, with the last horizontal stroke angled slightly upward. On the right, the top part of 隹 (亻) has a vertical stroke that should be straight, and the bottom four horizontal strokes are parallel and evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or misaligning the strokes of 隹.

铐 (kào) means handcuffs, with the same metal radical but a different right side (考) that suggests locking or testing. 铑 (lǎo) is the chemical element rhodium, a rare metal. While all three share the metal radical, 锥 specifically refers to pointed objects like awls or cones, while 铐 and 铑 have unrelated meanings.

锥 appears in everyday words like 圆锥 (yuán zhuī, cone) for geometric shapes, and 锥子 (zhuī zi, awl) for a sewing tool. 改锥 (gǎi zhuī) means screwdriver, a common tool in households. In Chinese culture, the idiom "锥处囊中" (an awl in a bag) describes talent that cannot be hidden, similar to "a diamond in the rough".

Common words containing 锥 include: 圆锥 (yuán zhuī) — cone; 锥子 (zhuī zi) — Awl; 改锥 (gǎi zhuī) — screwdriver.