Common Meanings
1
páo刨
To dig; to excavate; to get to the bottom of something (as in '刨根问底').
他们在后院刨了个大坑，准备种树
They dug a big hole in the backyard, preparing to plant a tree.
to subtract; to remove; to deduct
刨去成本，利润所剩无几
After deducting costs, there's little profit left.
2
bào刨
A tool or machine used to plane or smooth surfaces, often wood or metal, such as a plane or a planing machine.
木匠用刨子把木板刨平。
The carpenter uses a plane to smooth the wooden board.
To plane or shave wood/metal using a tool (a plane or planing machine).
木匠用刨子把木头刨平。
The carpenter used a plane to smooth the wood.