a saw

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
钅 meaning component

  Meaning component

jīn

  

metal

is a component form of .

居 sound component

  Sound component

  

live

Evolution

锯 Bronze script Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze script

Late Warring States (~250 BC)
锯 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
锯 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
锯 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
锯 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

a saw; to saw; amputate; to cut with a saw

() 

variant of |[jū]

Most common words with 锯
Freq.
Word
Meaning

a saw

锯齿

sawtooth

电锯

electric saw (esp. electric chain saw)

锯子

a saw

拉锯战

to-and-fro tussle