| 刻 | 868C15 60S.00-2 | 部居  | 畫數 8 | ㄎㄜˋ [ke4] (*ㄎㄜ [ke1] ). | ||
| N. | (1) A quarter of an hour (lit. a "notch") 一刻鐘; 此時此刻 this hour and moment; 時時刻刻 all the time, every minute; 一刻工夫 quarter of an hour, soon, a moment; 一刻千金 value every minute (for study); 立刻，即刻 at once; 刻下 right now; 刻不容緩 must not lose a minute. (2) Edition: 宋刻，元刻 Suhng, Yuarn edition of wood-block printing. | |||||
| V.t. | (also *[ke1]) To carve, inscribe, inscribe in memory: 雕刻 carve, carving; 刻花 carved design; 刻字，刻圖章，刻石 carve words, carve seal, inscribe on stone; 刻印 carve wood blocks for printing; 刻圖章 to carve a seal; 刻書 (loosely) to publish book; 刻骨銘心 inscribe (debt of gratitude) on one's mind, in one's heart; 刻舟求劍 carve a mark on gunwale in moving boat where a sword was lost--ridiculous stupidity. | |||||
| Adj. | (1) Petty, fault-finding, exacting, mean: 苛刻 petty (criticism); 刻毒，刻薄，刻苦 [ke4du2], [ke4bo2], [ke4ku3]↓; 深刻 deep, penetrating (criticism, understanding). (2) (As var. of 剋) 刻日 this very date; 刻期 punctually on set date. | |||||
| Adv. | Harshly: 刻待 treat harshly; 刻己待人 self-sacrificing, self-denial in service to fellowmen. | |||||
| Words | 1. 刻板 [ke4ban3], (1) n., wood block for printing; (2) adj., adhering to rules and regulations without human considerations, going by the book: 這個人好刻板 this man is very stiff, inflexible. 2. 刻本 [ke4ben3], n., edition of wood block printing. 3. 刻薄 [ke4bo2]([ke4bo0]), adj., mean, ungenerous, carping (criticism): 他待人很刻薄 he is very mean toward people (servants, etc.); 這件事做得太刻薄了 this affair has been settled too harshly. 4. 刻刀 [ke4dao1], n., knife used in carving, inscribing. 5. 刻毒 [ke4du2], adj., petty, cruel, venomous (of a man's heart, dealings). 6. 刻畫 [ke4hua4], adj., (1) as in 刻畫入微 realistic portrayal of character; (2) see [ke4ban3]↑. 7. 刻苦 [ke4ku3], adj., hard-working, self-sacrificing: 刻苦用工 work hard at studies; 刻苦耐勞 willing to go through hardships; 刻苦成家 build up a family by hard work and thrift. 8. 刻漏 [ke4lou4], n., an ancient waterclock with hour markings. 9. 刻書 [ke4shu1], v.i., to publish book, formerly, by carving wood blocks. 10. 刻絲 [ke4si1], n., formerly, silk tapestry with cut designs. 11. 刻意 [ke4yi4], adv., with studious or intent effort: 刻意求工 do one's very best to achieve perfection. | |||||