Meanings of 乍
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About 乍
Podcast: 乍
Podcast: 乍
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AI Study Notes for 乍
突然 (tūrán) - use 乍 when emphasizing the first occurrence or an initial surprise, while 突然 focuses more on the unexpected nature of an event.
Imagine a startled cat (乍) that jumps up with its fur standing on end when it sees a sudden movement. The shape of the character resembles the startled stance, emphasizing the concept of suddenness and surprise.
While 乍 is often used in informal contexts, it can appear in literary works to convey a dramatic moment. A common mistake is to confuse it with 突然 (tūrán), which also means 'suddenly' but lacks the nuance of first-time experiences.
Although 乍 is not included in the official HSK levels, it relates to other words indicating suddenness or initial experiences. Students should focus on its usage in context to grasp subtle variations in meaning.
In Chinese literature, 乍 is often used to describe sudden realizations or moments of enlightenment, reflecting the cultural appreciation for unexpected insights in storytelling.
Learners often mispronounce 乍 by confusing it with other similar-sounding characters like 扎 (zhā), which means 'to pierce.' Remember that 乍 has a distinct tone and meaning related to suddenness.
Pronunciation of 乍
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Etymology of 乍
Pictograph of a tool for cutting grass.
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 乍?
Decomposition of 乍
Identify the Components
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Write 乍
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Practice writing 乍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 乍
乍 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 6 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.
Complete the Sentence
天气____晴乍雨.
Nature alternate sunshine with rain.
Example Sentences for 乍 (1)
Reorder the Sentence
Nature alternate sunshine with rain.
Cultural Notes for 乍
In Chinese literature, 乍 is often used to describe sudden realizations or moments of enlightenment, reflecting the cultural appreciation for unexpected insights in storytelling.
Word Family of 乍
Compound Meaning
What does 乍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 乍
You can say '乍一看，这个地方很美' (At first glance, this place is beautiful) to illustrate the sudden realization.
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