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歃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
歃shàto drink to an oathv, 13 strokes, radical 欠
歃shàto drinkunknown, 13 strokes, radical 欠
shà(sha4) T4
  1. 1to drink to an oath
  2. 2to drink
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March 24, 2026

歃shà(sha4)

The character 歃 (shà) means 'to drink to an oath' or 'to drink' in a ceremonial context. It is often used in formal or literary settings, particularly in historical texts discussing rituals or pledges. This character carries a sense of solemnity and commitment associated with the act of drinking in honor of an oath.

Strokes13Radical欠
Cultural Note

In ancient China, drinking to an oath was a significant ritual, often performed during ceremonies to solidify promises, such as in marriage or alliances. This practice reflects the importance of loyalty and commitment in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a solemn gathering where people drink from ornate cups as a sign of loyalty. The character 歃 looks like a person holding a cup with both hands (the top part resembling the cup and the bottom part suggesting a base). To remember the pronunciation, think of 'shà' as the sound you make when you take a deep breath before making a serious promise.

Meanings of 歃

shà(sha4)
1to drink to an oath
2to drink
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 歃

歃Simplified
13Strokes
欠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 歃

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Podcast: 歃

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AI Study Notes for 歃

Usage Notes

This term is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more appropriate in formal or literary contexts. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with more common drinking verbs such as 喝 (hē). Additionally, ensure correct tonal pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Though 歃 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to recognize it alongside other characters related to drinking or rituals like 喝 (hē) and 饮 (yǐn). Students should focus on understanding its formal usage and relate it to cultural practices around vows.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 歃 with the more common verb 喝 (hē). For example, saying '我想要 歃水' instead of '我想要 喝水' (I want to drink water) is incorrect. Remember to use 歃 only in appropriate contexts related to oaths.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 歃

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Etymology of 歃

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

breathe

Semantic (meaning)欠
+
Phonetic (sound)臿
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 歃

  1. 1The meaning half欠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half臿 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybreathe
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 歃? 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 歃?

Decomposition of 歃

IDS Structure⿰臿欠
歃Full Character
=
臿cha1
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 歃?

How to say to drink to an oath in Chinese

“to drink to an oath” in Chinese is歃shà

The character 歃 (shà) means 'to drink to an oath' or 'to drink' in a ceremonial context. It is often used in formal or literary settings, particularly in historical texts discussing rituals or pledges. This character carries a sense of solemnity and commitment associated with the act of drinking in honor of an oath.

When to use 歃

This term is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more appropriate in formal or literary contexts. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with more common drinking verbs such as 喝 (hē). Additionally, ensure correct tonal pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 歃 with the more common verb 喝 (hē). For example, saying '我想要 歃水' instead of '我想要 喝水' (I want to drink water) is incorrect. Remember to use 歃 only in appropriate contexts related to oaths.

Write 歃

歃

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

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Word Family of 歃

Words Containing This Character2
歃血为盟to swear a sacred oath歃血為盟
歃shàto drink
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 歃血为盟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 歃

No, 歃 is typically reserved for formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing oaths or ceremonies.

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