lì
砺
whetstone; sharpen
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
whetstone; sharpening stone
literaryRefers to a fine-grained stone used for sharpening knives and tools. Often used in literary or technical contexts.
Zhè这
kuài块
lì砺
shí石
fēi非
cháng常
xì细
nì腻
，
shì适
hé合
mó磨
tì剃
dāo刀
。
This whetstone is very fine-grained, suitable for sharpening razors.
Shān山
zhōng中
duō多
lì砺
shí石
，
kě可
gōng供
liè猎
rén人
mó磨
dāo刀
zhī之
yòng用
。
There are many whetstones in the mountains, available for hunters to sharpen their knives.
verb
to sharpen; to whet; to hone
literaryLiterary term for the action of sharpening blades on a whetstone. Often used figuratively in idioms about self-cultivation or tempering one's will.
Bǎo宝
jiàn剑
fēng锋
cóng从
mó磨
lì砺
chū出
，
méi梅
huā花
xiāng香
zì自
kǔ苦
hán寒
lái来
。
The edge of a sword comes from grinding and sharpening; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold.
Tā他
měi每
rì日
dǐ砥
lì砺
zì自
jǐ己
de的
jì技
yì艺
，
cóng从
bù不
xiè懈
dài怠
。
He hones his skills every day, never slacking off.
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Dǐ砥
lì砺
fèn奋
jìn进
，
bù不
wàng忘
chū初
xīn心
。
Tempering oneself and forging ahead, never forgetting the original aspiration.