Learn a Chinese Character - 夹

1. Character Basics

Radical: 大 (dà radical, "big" radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jiā, jiá, gā, xiá (multi-syllable character)

3. Meaning

to press from both sides, to clamp, to sandwich, to clip, to hold between, to be in between

4. Common Words

• 夹子 (jiā zi) - clip, clamp
• 夹心 (jiā xīn) - with filling, sandwich filling
• 夹菜 (jiā cài) - to pick up food with chopsticks
• 夹杂 (jiā zá) - to be mixed with, to be interspersed with
• 夹克 (jiá kè) - jacket
• 夹角 (jiā jiǎo) - included angle

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a verb meaning "to clamp" or "to sandwich"

2. Often used in compound words to express the concept of being between or holding together

3. Has multiple pronunciations depending on context

4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in daily objects, clothing terms, and geometric concepts

6. Cultural Background

The character 夹 has been used in Chinese writing for a long time. Its original meaning was "to hold between two hands" or "to clamp", which is reflected in its structure. In Chinese culture, the concept of "夹" is often associated with the idea of holding or containing something, which is evident in many everyday objects and expressions that use this character.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 夹 has 6 strokes. It consists of the 大 (big) radical and other components. You can remember it by thinking of "a big object holding something in between" - which connects to its meanings of clamping, sandwiching, or holding between.