Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
裟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
裟shācassock; monk's robex, 13 strokes, radical 衣
裟shāBuddhist monk's robeunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衣
shā(sha1) T1
  1. 1cassock; monk's robe
  2. 2Buddhist monk's robe
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

裟shā(sha1)

The character 裟 (shā) refers to a type of robe traditionally worn by Buddhist monks, known as a cassock. This garment is often associated with spiritual practice and is significant in various Buddhist ceremonies. It embodies a sense of simplicity and detachment from material possessions.

Strokes13Radical衣
Cultural Note

The robe represented by 裟 is central to the monastic life in Buddhism, symbolizing discipline and humility. It is often seen during religious ceremonies and signifies a monk's commitment to their spiritual path.

Memory Tip

Imagine a serene monk wearing a flowing robe, representing peace and mindfulness. The character 裟 includes the radical 衣 (yī), which means 'clothing,' hinting at its meaning related to garments. Picture the monk's robe, softly swirling around him like a gentle breeze, reminding you of the sound 'shā' as it moves.

Meanings of 裟

shā(sha1)
1cassock; monk's robe
2Buddhist monk's robe
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 裟

裟Simplified
13Strokes
衣Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 裟

JasonAmy

Podcast: 裟

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 裟

Usage Notes

When using 裟, it is important to note that it is more formal and specific to Buddhist contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations about clothing. Common collocations include 裟衣 (shā yī, robe) and 僧人穿裟 (sēngrén chuān shā, monks wear robes). Mispronouncing the tone can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 裟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other clothing-related words at this level. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in texts related to Buddhism and spiritual practices, enhancing their comprehension of cultural references.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 裟 with similar-sounding words like 沙 (shā, sand) due to mispronunciation. Ensure to practice the tone to differentiate them properly; for example, saying '沙' when intending to refer to a monk's robe is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 裟

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 裟 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 裟

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

cloth

Semantic (meaning)衣
+
Phonetic (sound)沙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 裟

  1. 1The meaning half衣 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half沙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycloth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 裟? 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 裟?

Decomposition of 裟

IDS Structure⿱沙衣
裟Full Character
=
沙Sha1
top
衣yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 裟?

How to say cassock; monk's robe in Chinese

“cassock; monk's robe” in Chinese is裟shā

The character 裟 (shā) refers to a type of robe traditionally worn by Buddhist monks, known as a cassock. This garment is often associated with spiritual practice and is significant in various Buddhist ceremonies. It embodies a sense of simplicity and detachment from material possessions.

When to use 裟

When using 裟, it is important to note that it is more formal and specific to Buddhist contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations about clothing. Common collocations include 裟衣 (shā yī, robe) and 僧人穿裟 (sēngrén chuān shā, monks wear robes). Mispronouncing the tone can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 裟 with similar-sounding words like 沙 (shā, sand) due to mispronunciation. Ensure to practice the tone to differentiate them properly; for example, saying '沙' when intending to refer to a monk's robe is incorrect.

Write 裟

裟

Practice writing 裟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 裟

Words Containing This Character2
袈裟kasaya, a patchwork outer vestment worn by a Buddhist monk
裟shāBuddhist monk's robe
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 袈裟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 裟

It means 'cassock' or 'monk's robe' and is associated with Buddhist monks.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 裟?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.