鏤

Phono-semantic compound:

金 (쇠 금) — semantic: metal, engraving tool

婁 (끌 루) — phonetic element providing the sound (ru/lou)

Thus the original meaning is engraving metal or incising designs.

While not everyday vocabulary, 鏤 appears frequently in:

- craft terminology

- Buddhist art descriptions

- historical records referring to ornamented metalwork

정교하게 새김 (鏤金 / 누금) — gold engraving

누문 (鏤紋) — engraved pattern

누화 (鏤花) — carved floral design

누조 (鏤彫) — carved / incised decoration

Since the Six Dynasties period, 鏤 is often used figuratively for meticulous refinement, especially in writing:

鏤辭 — polished diction

鏤文 — refined literary style

In East Asian metal arts (particularly in Korea and Japan), 鏤 refers to fine pierced work, similar to:

- openwork

- filigree

- inlay engraving

Classical citations:

《詩經·大雅·文王》 (The Book of Songs)

「錫爾介福，鏤爾金玉。」

“He bestows great blessings upon you, engraving them upon gold and jade.”

Here 鏤 refers literally to engraving precious materials.

《後漢書·蔡邕傳》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「鏤心刻骨，銘肌鏤骨。」

“Engraved upon the heart and carved into the bones.”

Figurative usage meaning deeply remembered.

《文選·王延壽〈魯靈光殿賦〉》 (Wenxuan, Anthology of Literature)

「鏤金飾玉，奇麗無比。」

“Gold engraved and jade adorned — beauty without equal.”

Again emphasizing the meaning of ornamental carving.

Confucian commentary usage:

Scholars sometimes use 鏤 metaphorically 「鏤辭」 — “to polish words,” referring to refined, elegant writing.