Meanings of 钗
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About 钗
Podcast: 钗
Podcast: 钗
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AI Study Notes for 钗
钗 is more commonly used in literary or historical contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone; the first tone (chāi) is essential, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include '玉钗' (jade hairpin) or '发钗' (hairpin).
Although钗 is not in the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to clothing and accessories at HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on the radicals and components of similar characters to enhance their understanding of Chinese writing.
Learners often confuse 钗 with 发夹, mistakenly using钗 to refer to any hair accessory. Remember, 钗 is specifically for ornamental hairpins, while 发夹 refers to practical hair clips.
Pronunciation of 钗
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Etymology of 钗
A metal 钅 fork 叉; 叉 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 钗
- 1The giveawayA metal 钅 fork 叉; 叉 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 钗? 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 钗
Identify the Components
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How to say ornamental hairpin in Chinese
“ornamental hairpin” in Chinese is钗
钗 (chāi) refers to an ornamental hairpin, often used in traditional Chinese hairstyles, particularly by women. These hairpins can be decorative and signify social status or beauty, commonly seen in historical contexts and cultural celebrations.
When to use 钗
钗 is more commonly used in literary or historical contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone; the first tone (chāi) is essential, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include '玉钗' (jade hairpin) or '发钗' (hairpin).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 钗 with 发夹, mistakenly using钗 to refer to any hair accessory. Remember, 钗 is specifically for ornamental hairpins, while 发夹 refers to practical hair clips.
Write 钗
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Practice writing 钗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 钗
In Western cultures, hairpins are often seen as simple fashion accessories, while in Chinese culture, they have deeper social and historical connotations that reflect a woman's status and identity.
Word Family of 钗
Compound Meaning
What does 钗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 钗
You can say '她戴着一支精美的钗' (Tā dàizhe yī zhī jīngměi de chāi), which means 'She is wearing an exquisite hairpin.'
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