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柵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柵zhàfence, grid, palisadex, 9 strokes, radical 木
zhà(zha4) T4
  1. 1fence, grid, palisade
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

柵zhà(zha4)

The character 柵 (zhà) refers to a fence or a grid, typically used to enclose an area or provide a barrier. It is commonly found in contexts relating to animal enclosures, park boundaries, or architectural features. The nuance of this word often conveys a sense of containment or protection.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, fences or walls like those represented by 柵 were often used to demarcate property lines and protect gardens or homes, reflecting the value placed on privacy and security in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large fence made of wooden slats that creates a protective barrier around a garden. The character 柵 has the wood radical (木) on the left, reminding you that it is often made from wood, and the right side resembles a structure that keeps things in place – just like a fence does.

Meanings of 柵

zhà(zha4)
1fence, grid, palisade
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 柵

柵Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柵

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Podcast: 柵

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 柵

Quick Contrast

栅 (zhà) - use 柵 for more traditional or literary contexts, while 栅 is more common in modern usage.

Usage Notes

This character is generally used in written contexts rather than spoken language. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; for instance, '扎' (zhā) means to tie or prick. Common collocations include '柵欄' (zhàlán - fence) and '圍柵' (wéizhà - enclosure).

HSK Study Tips

Although柵 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it incorporates the wood radical, which is present in many other related characters like '树' (shù - tree) and '林' (lín - forest). Focus on recognizing the radicals to enhance overall character comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柵 with similar characters due to its pronunciation and form. For instance, saying '扎' (zhā) instead of '柵' (zhà) can lead to misunderstandings, as they have different meanings. Always double-check the character in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柵

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Etymology of 柵

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

A fence 冊 made of wood 木; 冊 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 柵

  1. 1The giveawayA fence 冊 made of wood 木; 冊 also provides the pronunciation
  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 柵? 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 柵?

Decomposition of 柵

IDS Structure⿰木冊
柵Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
冊ce4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 柵?

How to say fence, grid, palisade in Chinese

“fence, grid, palisade” in Chinese is柵zhà

The character 柵 (zhà) refers to a fence or a grid, typically used to enclose an area or provide a barrier. It is commonly found in contexts relating to animal enclosures, park boundaries, or architectural features. The nuance of this word often conveys a sense of containment or protection.

When to use 柵

This character is generally used in written contexts rather than spoken language. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; for instance, '扎' (zhā) means to tie or prick. Common collocations include '柵欄' (zhàlán - fence) and '圍柵' (wéizhà - enclosure).

柵 or something close to it

栅 (zhà) - use 柵 for more traditional or literary contexts, while 栅 is more common in modern usage.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柵 with similar characters due to its pronunciation and form. For instance, saying '扎' (zhā) instead of '柵' (zhà) can lead to misunderstandings, as they have different meanings. Always double-check the character in context.

Write 柵

柵

Practice writing 柵 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 柵

Words Containing This Character6
栅栏fence柵欄
栅zhàfence柵
木栅Muzha (old spelling: Mucha), suburb to the southeast of Taipei木柵
栅门gate柵門
栅极grid (in vacuum tubes)柵極
栏栅barrier欄柵
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 栅栏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 柵

Common phrases include '柵欄' (zhàlán - fence) and '圍柵' (wéizhà - enclosure), which both relate to physical barriers.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 柵?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.