Chinese–EnglishWith examples

琢磨

zhuó mó · zhuo mo/zuó mo · zuo mo

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

zhuó mó 琢磨

  1. to carve and polish (jade)
  2. to polish and refine a literary work

zuó mo 琢磨

  1. to ponder
  2. to mull over
  3. to think through
  4. Taiwan pr. [zhuó mó]
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

What gift for Mom

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)在(zài)琢磨(zuómo)什么(shénme)呢(ne)？

    What are you mulling over?

  2. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)在(zài)琢磨(zuómo)，给(gěi)妈妈(māma)买(mǎi)什么(shénme)生日(shēngrì)礼物(lǐwù)。

    I am thinking about what birthday gift to buy Mom.

  3. Dengdeng

    买条(mǎitiáo)围巾(wéijīn)怎么样(zěnmeyàng)？

    How about buying a scarf?

  4. Liangliang

    去年(qùnián)买(mǎi)了(le)花(huā)，今年(jīnnián)我(wǒ)再(zài)琢磨(zuómo)琢磨(zuómo)。

    I bought flowers last year. I will think about it some more this year.

  5. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)琢磨(zuómo)了(le)三天(sāntiān)，今天(jīntiān)就是(jiùshì)她的(tāde)生日(shēngrì)。

    You have mulled it over for three days, and today is her birthday.

  6. Liangliang

    啊(a)！那(nà)我(wǒ)快(kuài)去(qù)买(mǎi)围巾(wéijīn)！

    Ah! Then I will quickly go buy a scarf!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)琢(zuó)磨(mó)难(nán)题(tí)。

He likes to ponder difficult problems.

02

工(gōng)匠(jiàng)仔(zǐ)细(xì)琢(zhuó)磨(mó)玉(yù)石(shí)。

The craftsman carefully carves and polishes the jade.

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Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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