锯 meaning and stroke order
A saw (CL:把[ba3]); to saw
How to write 锯, stroke by stroke
13 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 锯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- a saw (CL:把[ba3])
- to saw
- variant of 鋦|锔[ju1]
How 锯 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 居 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锯
锯 combines the metal radical 钅 with 居 (jū), which gives the sound. Picture a metal tool sitting at home in the workshop: a saw.
锯 is a noun meaning a saw, counted with 把 (bǎ), and also a verb meaning to saw something. As a noun, people often say 锯子 (jùzi) in everyday speech. Example: 他用锯子把木头锯开了。(Tā yòng jùzi bǎ mùtou jùkāi le.) He sawed the wood apart with a saw.
Common mistake: Learners often read 锯 as jū because of its phonetic part 居 (jū), but the common reading is fourth tone jù. Also do not confuse it with 据 (jù, according to), which has the hand radical 扌 instead of metal 钅.
Common words with 锯
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 电锯 | diànjù | electric chainsaw | |
| 锯子 | jùzi | saw | |
| 锯木厂 | jùmùchǎng | sawmill; lumber mill |
锯 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 锯
How many strokes are in 锯?
锯 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锯 mean?
锯 (jù) means a saw (CL:把[ba3]); to saw. A common word with it is 电锯 (diànjù), meaning "electric chainsaw".
How do you pronounce 锯?
锯 is pronounced jù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 锯?
The radical of 锯 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锯 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锯?
The traditional form of 锯 is 鋸. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锯 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 锯 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 锯 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is 锯 ever pronounced jū?
Yes, but rarely. As jū it is a variant of 锔, meaning to mend porcelain or pots with metal staples. In almost all modern use, 锯 is read jù.
How do I say 'to saw off' or 'to cut down' with 锯?
Add a result complement after 锯. 锯断 (jùduàn) means to saw through, and 锯掉 (jùdiào) means to saw off, as in 把树枝锯掉 (bǎ shùzhī jùdiào), saw off the branch.