镶嵌
xiāng qiàn · HSK 7
to set
💍 镶 has the metal radical 钅 (mounting a gem in metal); 嵌 holds 山 (set into a recess)
镶嵌 pairs two near-synonyms for fitting one thing snugly into another. 镶 (metal radical 钅) is the mounting of a stone into metal; 嵌 contains 山, the notch or recess the piece sinks into. Together: to inlay, embed, or set a jewel.
镶 — metal radical 钅 + 襄 (xiāng, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The metal radical 钅 (金) signals the meaning—originally the metal lining or rim set into an object—while 襄 supplies the xiāng sound. Over time the meaning broadened from 'inlay metal' to inlaying or setting any material, such as gems into a frame.