[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Hand-Actions # 磨 mó，mò to polish; to wear ## Components [[石 shí]] [[石 (shí)]] [[麻 má]] [[麻 (mà)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "磨" has the following meanings: 1. **To Grind or Polish**: It refers to the action of grinding, polishing, or sharpening, such as grinding grain into flour or sharpening a blade. 2. **To Wear Down**: It can mean to wear something down through friction or repeated action. 3. **To Pester or Nag**: In a figurative sense, it can also refer to persistent nagging or bothering someone. Overall, "磨" is commonly associated with grinding, polishing, and persistence in modern usage. ## History The character "磨" is an ideographic compound. The left component "石" (stone) signifies its connection to stone tools, while "麻" (hemp) represents roughness, indicating that the surface of stone tools was uneven and needed to be smoothed. Originally, "磨" referred to the process of grinding or polishing stone tools. Over time, it became a general term for grinding, polishing, or sharpening objects. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ？ ### Bronze Script ？ ### Seal Script ？ ### Clerical Script ![[磨 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[磨 reg.svg]]