dǐ

砥

Character · Noun · Verb

fine whetstone; to temper

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

fine whetstone (for sharpening)

literary

Specifically refers to a fine-grained stone used for sharpening blades. This is a classical and technical term.

Tā他
yòng用
dǐ砥
shí石
zǐ仔
xì细
dì地
mó磨
dāo刀
 。

He sharpened the knife carefully with a fine whetstone.

 《
Shān山
Hǎi海
Jīng经
 》
zhōng中
jì记
zǎi载
le了
yī一
zhǒng种
míng名
wéi为
 “
dǐ砥
 ”
de的
shí石
tou头
 。

The 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' records a kind of stone named 'di'.

2.

verb

to sharpen; to temper; to refine

literary

Used metaphorically to mean refining one's skills, character, or will through hardship or practice.

Kùn困
nán难
dǐ砥
lì砺
le了
tā他
de的
yì意
zhì志
 。

Hardships tempered his will.

Shí十
nián年
mó磨
yī一
jiàn剑
 ，
shuāng霜
rèn刃
wèi未
céng曾
shì试
 ，
jīn今
rì日
bǎ把
shì示
jūn君
 ，
shuí谁
yǒu有
bù不
píng平
shì事
 ？
 —
 —
Jiǎ贾
Dǎo岛
 （
cǐ此
chù处
de的
 “
mó磨
 ”
yǔ与
 “
dǐ砥
 ”
tóng同
yì义
 ）

Ten years to hone this single sword, its frosty edge yet to be tried. Today I show it to you, sir, who has suffered unjustly? — Jia Dao (Here 'hone' shares the same meaning as 'di').