冶 yě to smelt
to smelt; to fuse metals; to cast
怎么记住“冶”: 冫 ice + 台 platform = to smelt. The student drops an ice cube on the glowing platform before the teacher shows the class how to smelt.
部件结构
会意 · Meaning + meaning
originally 呂 + 刀 + 口
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
冶 = 冫 ice + 台 platform
- 冫 ice shape only
- 台 platform shape only
- 厶 private
- 口 mouth
The student drops an ice cube on the glowing platform before the teacher shows the class how to smelt.
How it came to be
The oldest form shows metal ingots and a ladle, for casting metal.
用法
- To smelt metal: 冶金 (yějīn) metallurgy, 冶炼 (yěliàn) to smelt/refine ore.
- Figurative in 陶冶 (táoyě), to mould/cultivate character: 陶冶情操 to refine one's sensibilities, as ore is refined.
- Also 妖冶 (yāoyě), seductively glamorous: a rarer, older sense.