銳利 / 锐利
ruìlì
In Chinese, the English word 'sharp' can be translated as 銳利 / 锐利 (ruìlì) or 尖銳 / 尖锐 depending on the context.
Meaning: able to cut easily (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 銳利 / 锐利 | ruìlì |
| 尖銳 / 尖锐 | jiānruì |
The term 銳利 / 锐利 is used specifically to describe a cutting edge, such as the edge of a knife, scissors or any tool designed for slicing or cutting. Related terms like 锋利 are also frequently employed to describe sharp objects like blades.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 尖銳 / 尖锐 is composed of the characters 尖 (jiān), meaning 'pointed' or 'tip' and 銳 (ruì), meaning 'sharp' or 'keen'.
Which one should you use?
While 銳利 / 锐利 refers specifically to a blade's ability to cut, 尖銳 / 尖锐 is used for things that are physically pointed or for abstract concepts, such as 'sharp' criticism or 'sharp' pain.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ruìlì
Did you know?
- When describing a 'sharp' turn in a road, Chinese uses 急 (jí), which more closely translates to 'urgent' or 'sudden' rather than a physical edge.
- The word 銳 (ruì) can be used in the phrase 銳氣 (ruìqì), referring to a person's 'sharp' edge of confidence or arrogance that needs to be 'filed down'.
- The character 尖 (jiān) is used in the term 尖端 (jiānduān) to describe 'cutting-edge' technology, treating scientific progress as a physical point.
Examples in context
- 这把刀很锋利This knife is very sharp.
- 他的批评很尖锐His critique is very sharp.
- 她有敏锐的嗅觉She has a sharp sense of smell.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sharp” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
