砍柴

kǎnchái

to chop firewood

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 砍 kǎn
  1. to chop
  2. to cut down
  3. to throw sth at sb
=2 柴 Chái surname Chai
=2 柴 chái
  1. firewood
  2. lean (of meat)
  3. thin (of a person)
=2 柴 zhài
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 寨 (zhài, “defending fence”)
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 寨 (zhài, “villa”)
  3. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to cover; to place something over
  4. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to fence; to surround and protect with fence (made of wood)
  5. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to stop; to block; to obstruct
  6. alternative form of 寨 (zhài, “defending fence”)
  7. alternative form of 寨 (zhài, “villa”)
  8. to cover; to place something over
  9. to fence; to surround and protect with fence (made of wood)
  10. to stop; to block; to obstruct

Containing this entry

磨刀不誤砍柴工 módāobùwùkǎncháigōng
  1. lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
  2. fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
  3. a beard well lathered is half shaved