杵
pestle; poke; jab
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesnoun
pestle; a round club with one thick end used to pound or beat
A traditional tool used with a mortar (臼) to grind grains, herbs, or to beat clothes while washing.
Grandmother pounds rice with a pestle and mortar.
In ancient times, washerwomen often beat clothes with a wooden pestle by the river.
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This set of pestle and mortar is used for grinding medicinal herbs.
verb
to pound or grind with a pestle
literaryLiterary or classical usage, often seen in texts about preparing medicine or food.
In ancient times, people needed to pound herbs before making medicine.
The poem depicts a woman pounding rice under the moonlight.
verb
to poke; to jab; to prod with a long, thin object
informalA colloquial action, often implying a quick, light, or somewhat rude poke.
Stop fooling around, why are you poking me with your finger?
He took a stick and poked around in the hole to see what was inside.
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The child jabbed and tore the paper with a pencil.