unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
lá
unreasonable
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
lá
absurd
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
là
to slash, to cut in two; to contradict
zg, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
là
perverse
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
là
unreasonable
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
剌
là
absurd
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Very Hard
lá(la2)
primary
T2
1to slash, to cut in two; to contradict
2perverse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
剌lá(la2)
The character 剌 (là) primarily means to slash or cut, often with a connotation of severity or violence. It can also imply contradiction or absurdity in certain contexts. This word is used in both literal senses, like cutting with a knife, and figurative ones, such as describing an unreasonable argument.
Strokes9Radical刂Frequency#16223DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of cutting or slashing often appears in traditional literature and martial arts, symbolizing conflict resolution or the struggle between opposing forces. The character may evoke imagery from historical battles or philosophical debates about right and wrong.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce warrior slashing through a thick forest with a sword, making a loud 'là' sound with every cut. The character has a knife radical (刀) on the left, emphasizing its meaning related to cutting. Picture the warrior's absurdity in trying to clear the entire forest in one day, highlighting the contradiction in his actions.
Meanings of 剌
lá(la2)
primary
1to slash, to cut in two; to contradict
2perverse
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 剌
剌Simplified
9Strokes
刂Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 剌
Podcast: 剌
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 剌
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 剌 in formal writing as it can be considered quite strong or aggressive. It often appears in contexts discussing debate or argumentation, so it’s important to pair it with appropriate nouns to avoid sounding too harsh. Common collocations include phrases related to conflict or absurd situations.
HSK Study Tips
While 剌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners who are at an advanced level. It connects with other verbs related to cutting or discussing contradictions, such as 切 (qiē) and 矛盾 (máodùn). Focus on its different usages to understand the nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 剌 with 刺 (cì), which means to stab or prick. For example, saying '我想要剌这个苹果' (I want to slash this apple) is incorrect; the correct term would be '切' (qiē) for cutting. Be mindful of the context and the nature of the action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 剌
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Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 束 represents the sound.
1The meaning half刂 carries the sense.
2The sound half束 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayknife
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 剌? 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 剌?
Decomposition of 剌
IDS Structure⿰束刂
剌Full Character
=
束Shu4
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 剌?
How to say to slash, to cut in two; to contradict in Chinese
“to slash, to cut in two; to contradict” in Chinese is剌lá
The character 剌 (là) primarily means to slash or cut, often with a connotation of severity or violence. It can also imply contradiction or absurdity in certain contexts. This word is used in both literal senses, like cutting with a knife, and figurative ones, such as describing an unreasonable argument.
When to use 剌
Be cautious when using 剌 in formal writing as it can be considered quite strong or aggressive. It often appears in contexts discussing debate or argumentation, so it’s important to pair it with appropriate nouns to avoid sounding too harsh. Common collocations include phrases related to conflict or absurd situations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 剌 with 刺 (cì), which means to stab or prick. For example, saying '我想要剌这个苹果' (I want to slash this apple) is incorrect; the correct term would be '切' (qiē) for cutting. Be mindful of the context and the nature of the action.
Write 剌
剌
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Practice writing 剌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 剌
剌 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
池子里的红鲤鱼泼____一响.
A carp splashed in the pond.
Example Sentences for 剌 (3)
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1
池子里的红鲤鱼泼剌一响.
chí zǐ lǐ de hóng lǐ yú pō là yī xiǎng.
A carp splashed in the pond.
2
水池里泼剌一声, 一条大金鱼窜了起来.
shuǐ chí lǐ pō là yī shēng, , yī tiáo dà jīn yú cuàn le qǐ.
There was splash goldfish in the pond, and a big goldfish bobbed up.
