Chinese Character: 嫁
1. Character Basics
Radical: 女/nǚ radical (woman/female)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jià
Pronunciation Note: Pronounced with a falling tone (fourth tone).
3. Meaning
to marry (of a woman), to wed, to get married, to be given in marriage
4. Common Words
- 结婚 (jiéhūn) - to get married, marriage - The act of becoming husband and wife
- 出嫁 (chūjià) - (of a woman) to get married, to leave home to marry - When a woman leaves her family home to join her husband's family
- 嫁妆 (jiàzhuāng) - dowry - The property or money a woman brings to her husband's family upon marriage
- 嫁接 (jiàjiē) - grafting (horticulture) - A technique of plant propagation
- 婚嫁 (hūnjià) - marriage - A general term for marriage
- 嫁人 (jiàrén) - (of a woman) to get married - For a woman to marry someone
5. Grammar & Usage
1. As a verb: "嫁" is primarily used as a verb meaning "for a woman to get married", as in "她去年嫁给了一个医生" (She married a doctor last year).
2. In the structure "嫁给...": The most common structure is "嫁给" followed by the person one marries, as in "她嫁给了他" (She married him).
3. Extended meaning: In horticulture, "嫁" is used in the term "嫁接" (grafting) which refers to a plant propagation technique.
4. In idioms: "嫁" appears in idiomatic expressions such as "嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗" (jiàjī-suíjī, jiàgǒu-suígǒu), which means "marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog", indicating that a wife should follow her husband regardless of his status.
6. Cultural Background
The character "嫁" has profound cultural significance in Chinese society, reflecting traditional views on marriage and gender roles. Historically, marriage in China was often arranged by families, and the concept of "出嫁" (a woman leaving her family to join her husband's) was central to the institution. Traditional customs surrounding marriage, such as dowries (嫁妆) and wedding ceremonies, have evolved over time but still carry cultural importance. The character's composition, with the female radical and the component for "home" or "structure", reflects the traditional belief that a woman's place after marriage is in her husband's home.
7. Example Sentence
她下个月就要嫁人了。
Pinyin: Tā xià gè yuè jiù yào jiàrén le.
Translation: She is getting married next month.
8. Memory Tips
The character "嫁" consists of two parts: the radical "女" (woman/female) and the component "家" (home, family). You can remember it by thinking of a woman (女) joining a new family (家) through marriage. The component "家" also helps with remembering the pronunciation (jià), as it has a similar sound.