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March 24, 2026
沙Shā(Sha1)
The character 沙 (shā) primarily refers to 'sand' and is used to describe granular materials like gravel and powder. It can also denote a raspy or hoarse voice in certain contexts. This character is commonly seen in both everyday language and specific terms related to geography and materials.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#3014DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 沙 is often associated with traditional landscapes and poetry, where sand is used to evoke feelings of tranquility and the passage of time. It is also a common element in Chinese art depicting natural scenes.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant beach made of soft, granulated sand (沙) that feels like tiny grains under your feet. The pronunciation 'shā' sounds like 'shhh'—the sound you might make when trying to keep quiet on a sandy beach.
Meanings of 沙
Shā(Sha1)
1granule
2hoarse
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 沙 means.
About 沙
沙Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3014Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沙
Podcast: 沙
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AI study notes for 沙
Quick Contrast
沙 (shā, sand) vs 土 (tǔ, soil) — use 沙 when referring specifically to sand or granular materials, while 土 refers to earth or soil.
Usage Notes
When using 沙, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar characters. It is generally informal but can appear in formal contexts when discussing geography or materials. Common collocations include phrases like '沙子' (shāzi, sand) and '沙滩' (shātān, beach).
HSK Study Tips
Although 沙 is not in the HSK levels, it connects well with other basic level vocabulary related to nature and materials. Students should focus on its pronunciation and different contexts, especially in describing landscapes and textures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沙 with similar-sounding characters like 啥 (shá, meaning 'what'). Remember that 沙 specifically refers to 'sand'. Another common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'shā' with a flat tone, instead of the correct rising tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沙
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 沙 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
沙 = 氵 + 少. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 沙
IDS Structure⿰氵少
沙Full character
=
氵shui3
left
少shao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 沙?
How to say surname Sha in Chinese
“surname Sha” in Chinese is沙Shā
The character 沙 (shā) primarily refers to 'sand' and is used to describe granular materials like gravel and powder. It can also denote a raspy or hoarse voice in certain contexts. This character is commonly seen in both everyday language and specific terms related to geography and materials.
When to use 沙
When using 沙, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar characters. It is generally informal but can appear in formal contexts when discussing geography or materials. Common collocations include phrases like '沙子' (shāzi, sand) and '沙滩' (shātān, beach).
沙 or something close to it
沙 (shā, sand) vs 土 (tǔ, soil) — use 沙 when referring specifically to sand or granular materials, while 土 refers to earth or soil.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 沙 with similar-sounding characters like 啥 (shá, meaning 'what'). Remember that 沙 specifically refers to 'sand'. Another common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'shā' with a flat tone, instead of the correct rising tone.
Write 沙
沙
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Practice writing 沙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 沙
沙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Daniel leaned back on the sofa, still chewing on his apple.
10
这艘船停靠在细沙滩上。
zhè sōu chuán tíng kào zài xì shātān shàng。
The ship has come to rest on the fine sand.
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Cultural Notes for 沙
💡Did you know?
在中国，沙子常用于建筑和制作陶器。沙土是制作陶器的重要材料，古代中国有着丰富的陶瓷文化。
📜Proverb
‘沙里淘金’这个成语比喻在大量的无用事物中寻找有用的东西。它提醒我们在生活中要善于发现价值。
Word Family of 沙
Compounds18
莎shāa kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
鲨shāshark
鯊shāshark
娑suōto dance, to frolic; to lounge; to saunter
痧shācholera; colic
挲sāto feel or fondle with the fingers
唦shā
乷shā
桫suōhorse chestnut
裟shācassock; monk's robe
挱sā
桬shā
猀shā
硰shā
逤suò
閯shà
髿suō
鯋shā
Words containing this character20
沙Shāgranule
沙发shāfāsofa (loanword)沙發
沙漠shāmòdesert
沙滩shātānbeach沙灘
长沙chángshāChangsha prefecture-level city and capital of Hunan province in south central China長沙
沙拉shālāsalad (loanword)
沙龙shālóngsalon (loanword)沙龍
沙子shāzisand
沙特shātèSaudi
加沙jiāshāGaza
沙尘shāchénairborne sand and dust沙塵
长沙市chángshāshìChangsha prefecture-level city and capital of Hunan province in south central China長沙市
沙特阿拉伯shātè’ālābóSaudi Arabia
沙袋shādàisandbag
沙丘shāqiūsand dune
泥沙níshāsilt
沙场shāchǎngsandpit沙場
沙哑shāyǎhoarse沙啞
沙皇shāhuángczar (loanword)
风沙fēngshāsandstorm風沙
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 沙
What does 莎 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 沙
Yes, 沙 (shā) can be used as a surname in Chinese. It's important to recognize when a character functions as a name versus its common meaning, as this can change the context of conversations. Understanding surnames can also help in social interactions.
沙 (shā) means 'sand,' while 沙滩 (shātān) means 'beach' or 'sandy shore.' The addition of 滩 (tān) specifies a location where sand accumulates, highlighting its use in geographical contexts. Knowing this distinction is useful for learners discussing landscapes.
沙 (shā) can be used in sentences to describe physical objects or conditions, such as '沙子很细' (The sand is very fine). It can also appear in expressions related to sound, like '他的声音沙哑' (His voice is hoarse). Learning how to use 沙 in context helps improve fluency.
沙 (shā) primarily means 'sand,' and can also refer to something that is hoarse or raspy. In addition, it can represent a surname, Sha, and is used as an abbreviation for Tsar or Tsarist Russia. Understanding its various meanings can enhance your Chinese vocabulary.
沙 refers specifically to 'sand', while 土 means 'soil' or 'earth', which is much coarser and richer in nutrients.
Yes, 沙 can be used in formal discussions about geography, construction, or science, especially when referring to sand-related materials.
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