Meanings of 腮
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About 腮
Podcast: 腮
Podcast: 腮
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AI Study Notes for 腮
腮 (sāi) vs 面颊 (miànjiá) — use 腮 for anatomical references like 'jaw' or 'gills', while 面颊 is specifically for 'cheek' in a facial context.
Be mindful of the context when using 腮; it is more common in informal settings when referring to facial features. A common mistake is confusing 腮 with similar characters like 颊 (jiá), which specifically means 'cheek.' Always check the tone to avoid mispronunciation, as it can change the meaning.
While 腮 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be helpful for students at HSK 3 or 4 when learning body parts. Focus on related vocabulary like 头 (tóu - head) and 眼 (yǎn - eye) to build your anatomical lexicon.
Learners often confuse 腮 with similar-sounding characters like 塞 (sāi), which means 'to plug' or 'to stop up.' Remember, 腮 specifically relates to body parts, while 塞 does not.
Pronunciation of 腮
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Etymology of 腮
Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 思 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顋.
flesh
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 腮
Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 思 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顋.
- 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
- 2The sound half思 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayflesh
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 腮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 腮
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How to say jaw; gills in Chinese
“jaw; gills” in Chinese is腮
The character 腮 (sāi) primarily refers to the 'jaw' or 'cheek' area in humans and other animals. It can also denote 'gills' in fish, reflecting the anatomical features of these body parts. This term is often used in descriptive contexts related to anatomy or physical appearance.
When to use 腮
Be mindful of the context when using 腮; it is more common in informal settings when referring to facial features. A common mistake is confusing 腮 with similar characters like 颊 (jiá), which specifically means 'cheek.' Always check the tone to avoid mispronunciation, as it can change the meaning.
腮 or something close to it
腮 (sāi) vs 面颊 (miànjiá) — use 腮 for anatomical references like 'jaw' or 'gills', while 面颊 is specifically for 'cheek' in a facial context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 腮 with similar-sounding characters like 塞 (sāi), which means 'to plug' or 'to stop up.' Remember, 腮 specifically relates to body parts, while 塞 does not.
Write 腮
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Practice writing 腮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 腮
腮 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 2 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
她的头发乌黑卷曲，脸上涂了____红。
She had curly black hair and rouged cheeks.
Example Sentences for 腮 (4)
Word Family of 腮
Compound Meaning
What does 腮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腮
腮 can refer to 'jaw,' 'cheek,' or 'gills,' depending on the context, such as when talking about animals or humans.
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