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夾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夾jiāto support; to be wedged betweenzg, 7 strokes, radical 大, rank #97275, Very Hard
jiā(jia1) T1
  1. 1to support; to be wedged between
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

夾jiā(jia1)

The character 夾 (jiā) means 'to support' or 'to be wedged between.' It is commonly used in contexts where one object is placed between two others, such as when describing how a sandwich is held together or how items are packed closely. The nuance implies a sense of holding or securing something in place.

Strokes7Radical大Frequency#97275DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, food often plays a central role, and 夾 is frequently used when discussing traditional dishes like dumplings, where ingredients are 'wedged' between dough. This reflects the importance of balance and harmony in meals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sandwich (夾) where the ingredients are wedged tightly between two slices of bread. The character's form can be seen as two slices of bread with the filling (the horizontal line) in the middle, helping you remember that it means to be wedged or supported.

Meanings of 夾

jiā(jia1)
1to support; to be wedged between
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 夾

夾Simplified
7Strokes
大Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 夾

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Podcast: 夾

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AI Study Notes for 夾

Quick Contrast

夹 (jiā) vs 夹住 (jiā zhù) — use 夹 for general wedging or supporting, while 夹住 implies a more secure or fixed holding.

Usage Notes

When using 夾, be careful with its tone, as it is pronounced with a first tone (jiā). Common collocations include 夾心 (jiā xīn), meaning 'sandwich filling,' and 夾住 (jiā zhù), meaning 'to hold or clamp.' It is important to use the character in both formal and informal contexts appropriately.

HSK Study Tips

Though 夾 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 or above, as it connects to daily life scenarios. Focus on practicing its usage in phrases and sentences to enhance your understanding of its application.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夾 with 夹 (jiá), which means 'to pinch' or 'to hold.' For example, saying '我夹书' (Wǒ jiá shū) instead of '我夹在书中' (Wǒ jiā zài shū zhōng) can create confusion, as the former implies a different action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夾

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Etymology of 夾

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 夾. Pictograph of a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides.

Memory Hint

Two people 从 supporting someone 大 from either side

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 夾

Simplified form of 夾. Pictograph of a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides.

  1. 1The giveawayTwo people 从 supporting someone 大 from either side
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 夾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 夾?

Decomposition of 夾

IDS Structure⿻大从
夾Full Character
=
大da4
outer
从Cong2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 夾?

How to say to support; to be wedged between in Chinese

“to support; to be wedged between” in Chinese is夾jiā

The character 夾 (jiā) means 'to support' or 'to be wedged between.' It is commonly used in contexts where one object is placed between two others, such as when describing how a sandwich is held together or how items are packed closely. The nuance implies a sense of holding or securing something in place.

When to use 夾

When using 夾, be careful with its tone, as it is pronounced with a first tone (jiā). Common collocations include 夾心 (jiā xīn), meaning 'sandwich filling,' and 夾住 (jiā zhù), meaning 'to hold or clamp.' It is important to use the character in both formal and informal contexts appropriately.

夾 or something close to it

夹 (jiā) vs 夹住 (jiā zhù) — use 夹 for general wedging or supporting, while 夹住 implies a more secure or fixed holding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夾 with 夹 (jiá), which means 'to pinch' or 'to hold.' For example, saying '我夹书' (Wǒ jiá shū) instead of '我夹在书中' (Wǒ jiā zài shū zhōng) can create confusion, as the former implies a different action.

Write 夾

夾

Practice writing 夾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 夾

Words Containing This Character20
夹jiāto sandwich夾
夹克jacket (loanword)夾克
文件夹folder文件夾
夹杂jiāzáto mingle夾雜
夹子jiāziclip夾子
皮夹wallet皮夾
夹心stuffed夾心
夹层mezzanine夾層
夹击pincer attack夾擊
发夹hair clip髮夾
雨夹雪sleet雨夾雪
弹夹ammunition clip彈夾
夹板splint夾板
夹带to carry within it夾帶
夹缝crack夾縫
钱夹wallet錢夾
夹角angle (between two intersecting lines)夾角
夹攻pincer movement夾攻
夹具clamp夾具
夹道欢迎to line the streets in welcome夾道歡迎
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 夹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 夾

You can say '我把书夹在桌子和椅子之间' (Wǒ bǎ shū jiā zài zhuōzi hé yǐzi zhī jiān), meaning 'I wedged the book between the table and the chair.'

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