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March 24, 2026
柴chái(Chai2)
The character 柴 (chái) primarily means 'firewood' or 'fuel', commonly used in the context of cooking or heating. It can also refer to someone who is lean or thin, particularly concerning meat or a person's physique. Additionally, 柴 is a common Chinese surname, pronounced 'Chai'.
Strokes10Radical木Frequency#10493DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, firewood has historical significance, especially in rural areas where cooking was done over open flames. Understanding this character can give insight into traditional cooking methods and the importance of firewood in daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine '柴' as a stack of firewood, where the two components resemble logs. The left radical, 木 (wood), hints at its meaning related to trees and firewood, while the right part suggests a collection of logs. Visualize a chef chopping thin slices of meat that resemble the lean nature of firewood to remember both meanings and pronunciation.
Meanings of 柴
chái(Chai2)
1firewood
2lean (of meat)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 柴
柴Simplified
10Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#10493Frequency Rank
Podcast: 柴
Podcast: 柴
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AI Study Notes for 柴
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 柴 with similar-sounding words, particularly those with different tones. It's important to use 'chái' with the second tone when referring to firewood. Context matters; use it in informal settings or discussions about cooking or family names.
HSK Study Tips
While 柴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK level 2 words like '火' (fire) and '木' (wood). Students should focus on the context in which it's used, especially regarding everyday life scenarios involving cooking or household activities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 柴 as 'chāi' (first tone) instead of 'chái'. Additionally, some may use it in contexts where a more specific term for meat or a different descriptor would be appropriate, such as saying '我喜欢柴肉' (I like firewood meat) instead of '我喜欢瘦肉' (I like lean meat).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 柴
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Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 此 represents the sound.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half此 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywood
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 柴? 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 柴?
Decomposition of 柴
IDS Structure⿱此木
柴Full Character
=
此ci3
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 柴?
How to say surname Chai in Chinese
“surname Chai” in Chinese is柴chái
The character 柴 (chái) primarily means 'firewood' or 'fuel', commonly used in the context of cooking or heating. It can also refer to someone who is lean or thin, particularly concerning meat or a person's physique. Additionally, 柴 is a common Chinese surname, pronounced 'Chai'.
When to use 柴
Learners often confuse 柴 with similar-sounding words, particularly those with different tones. It's important to use 'chái' with the second tone when referring to firewood. Context matters; use it in informal settings or discussions about cooking or family names.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 柴 as 'chāi' (first tone) instead of 'chái'. Additionally, some may use it in contexts where a more specific term for meat or a different descriptor would be appropriate, such as saying '我喜欢柴肉' (I like firewood meat) instead of '我喜欢瘦肉' (I like lean meat).
Write 柴
柴
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Practice writing 柴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 柴
柴 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 5 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
Complete the Sentence
通用____油动力火车头将车厢转轨到了4号月台。
The GM diesel engine shunted the coaches to Platform
I suggest we gather enough firewood to last the night.
Word Family of 柴
Compounds2
偨
喍
Words Containing This Character17
柴cháifirewood
火柴huǒcháimatch (for lighting fire)
柴油cháiyóudiesel fuel
柴火firewood
柴油机diesel engine柴油機
骨瘦如柴as thin as a match
木柴firewood
柴胡Chinese thorowax (Bupleurum chinense)
柴可夫斯基Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Russian composer
柴米油盐lit. firewood, rice, oil and salt柴米油鹽
劈柴to chop firewood
柴草firewood
柴达木盆地Tsaidam or Qaidam basin (Mongolian: salt marsh), depression northeast of the Plateau of Tibet, located between the Qilian Shan and the Kunlun Shan at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.柴達木盆地
柴科夫斯基Piotr Ilyich Tchaikowsky (1840-1893), Russian composer, composer of 6 symphonies and the opera Eugene Onegin
柴达木Tsaidam or Qaidam basin (Mongolian: salt marsh), depression northeast of the Plateau of Tibet, located between the Qilian Shan and the Kunlun Shan at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.柴達木
柴米油盐酱醋茶fig. life's daily necessities柴米油鹽醬醋茶
柴田Shibata (Japanese surname and place name)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 柴 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 柴
While its primary meaning is indeed 'firewood', it can also refer to someone being lean or thin, especially in the context of meat.
Yes, 柴 is a common Chinese surname, pronounced 'Chai'.
Make sure to use the second tone, pronounced 'chái', to avoid confusion with other words.
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