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莎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
莎
shā
a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
nr, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
莎
shā
katydid (family Tettigoniidae)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
莎
shā
phonetic "sha" used in transliteration
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
莎
suō
a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
nr, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
莎
suō
katydid (family Tettigoniidae)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
莎
suō
phonetic "sha" used in transliteration
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #3540, Hard
shā(sha1)sha
primary
T1
1a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
2katydid (family Tettigoniidae)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
莎shā(sha1)
莎 (shā) refers to a type of sedge grass commonly used in traditional Chinese raincoats. It can also denote katydids, a family of insects known for their distinctive sounds. This character is often seen in compounds related to nature and traditional crafts.
Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#3540DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, sedge grass has historical significance as a material for crafting raincoats, highlighting the resourcefulness of traditional practices in adapting to the environment. The katydid is also culturally significant, often associated with summer and nature's sounds.
Memory tip
Imagine a lush field of sedge grass waving in the wind, as a katydid chirps nearby. The character 莎 looks like a grass symbol, with the left side representing the grass itself and the right side hinting at its sound, 'shā', like a soft whisper in the breeze.
Meanings of 莎
shā(sha1)
primary
1a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
2katydid (family Tettigoniidae)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 莎 means.
About 莎
莎Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 莎
Podcast: 莎
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AI Study Notes for 莎
Usage Notes
莎 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, particularly when discussing ecological topics or traditional crafts. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. Common collocations include 莎草 (sedge grass) and 摩莎 (katydid).
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding 莎 can enhance your grasp of nature-related terms. It may appear in literature or discussions about traditional Chinese practices, so students should focus on its usage in context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 莎 with similar characters like 沙 (shā, sand) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember, 莎 refers specifically to grass or katydids, while 沙 relates to sand.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 莎
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How Well Do You Know 莎?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 莎 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.
莎 = 艹 + 沙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 莎
IDS Structure⿱艹沙
莎Full character
=
艹cao3
top
沙Sha1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 莎?
How to say a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats in Chinese
“a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats” in Chinese is莎shā
莎 (shā) refers to a type of sedge grass commonly used in traditional Chinese raincoats. It can also denote katydids, a family of insects known for their distinctive sounds. This character is often seen in compounds related to nature and traditional crafts.
When to use 莎
莎 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, particularly when discussing ecological topics or traditional crafts. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. Common collocations include 莎草 (sedge grass) and 摩莎 (katydid).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 莎 with similar characters like 沙 (shā, sand) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember, 莎 refers specifically to grass or katydids, while 沙 relates to sand.
Write 莎
莎
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Practice writing 莎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 莎
莎 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你不得不佩服梅利____，她到哪里都吃得开。
You've got to hand it to Melissa, she certainly gets around.
Example Sentences for 莎 (10)
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1
你不得不佩服梅利莎，她到哪里都吃得开。
nǐ bùdébù pèifú méi lì shā， tā dào nǎlǐ dōu chī de kāi。
You've got to hand it to Melissa, she certainly gets around.
2
伊莎贝尔把酒杯放在桌上他伸手可及的地方。
yī shā bèi ěr bǎ jiǔ bēi fàng zài zhuō shàng tā shēnshǒu kě jí de dìfang。
Isabelle placed a wine cup on the table within his reach.
