co3銼锉
Jyutpingco3
Yalecho
Definition
To file; to abrade, smooth, or shape a surface using a file.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal action of using a tool to smooth surfaces, this word is frequently used in casual settings to describe the act of shaping or refining something, such as fingernails or metal edges. It implies a repetitive, grinding motion rather than a single cut. When used in a metaphorical sense, it can sometimes suggest the tedious process of refining a rough draft or a project.
Examples
Please help me file this wooden board until it is smooth.
She really likes to file her own fingernails.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 磨, which is a broader term for grinding or rubbing. While 磨 can apply to almost any friction-based smoothing, 銼 specifically implies the use of a file or a similar abrasive tool.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
