xíng

硎

Character · Noun · Verb

whetstone; to grind

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

whetstone; grindstone

literary

Literary term for a stone used to sharpen knives or swords. Commonly appears in the idiom 发硎 (newly sharpened).

Dāo刀
rèn刃
ruò若
xīn新
fā发
yú于
xíng硎
 。

The blade edge looks as if it had just been sharpened on a whetstone.

fā发
xíng硎
xīn新
shì试

to try out a newly sharpened blade—figuratively, to display one's talent for the first time

2.

verb

to grind; to sharpen; to polish

archaic

Classical usage referring to the action of sharpening tools on a stone. Rare in modern speech.

Xíng硎
gǔ谷
zhī之
jiàn剑
 ，
tiān天
xià下
zhī之
lì利
yě也
 。

The swords from Xing Valley are the sharpest in the world.

Yǐ以
shí石
xíng硎
jīn金
 ，
yǐ以
jīn金
lì砺
shí石
 。

Using stone to grind metal, using metal to sharpen stone.