磋 meaning and stroke order
To polish, to buff; to examine, to deliberate
How to write 磋, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 磋
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (old) to polish bones, horns, ivory etc into tools
- (bound form) to deliberate; to consult
How 磋 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Stone.
石 gives the meaning and 差 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 磋
磋 combines 石 (stone) for meaning and 差 (chà) for sound. Picture rubbing a rough, uneven (差) piece of bone against a stone until it is smooth and polished.
Today 磋 almost never appears alone. It lives in two common words: 磋商 (cuōshāng, to consult or negotiate) in formal or news language, and 切磋 (qiēcuō, to learn from each other). Example: 两国正在磋商贸易问题。(Liǎng guó zhèngzài cuōshāng màoyì wèntí.) The two countries are negotiating trade issues.
Common mistake: Learners often read 磋 as chā or chà because of the phonetic 差, but it is cuō with a first tone. Also do not confuse it with 搓 (cuō, to rub with the hands), which has the hand radical 扌 instead of stone 石.
Common words with 磋
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 磋商 | cuōshāng | to consult; to discuss seriously | HSK 7-9 |
| 切磋 | qiēcuō | to compare notes; to learn from one another |
Questions about 磋
How many strokes are in 磋?
磋 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 磋 mean?
磋 (cuō) means to polish, to buff; to examine, to deliberate. A common word with it is 磋商 (cuōshāng), meaning "to consult; to discuss seriously".
How do you pronounce 磋?
磋 is pronounced cuō, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 磋?
The radical of 磋 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 磋 under this radical.
Is 磋 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 磋 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 磋商 and 商量?
商量 (shāngliang) is everyday and casual, like friends deciding where to eat. 磋商 is formal and used for serious talks between governments, companies, or organizations.
Where does the phrase 切磋 come from?
It comes from the old idea of working materials into tools: 切 is cutting bone and 磋 is polishing ivory. Together they came to mean improving each other through discussion or friendly practice, as in 切磋球技 (qiēcuō qiújì), practicing ball skills together.