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钗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
钗chāiornamental hairpinng, 8 strokes, radical 钅
钗chāihairpinunknown, 8 strokes, radical 钅
chāi(chai1)chai T1
  1. 1ornamental hairpin
  2. 2hairpin
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March 24, 2026

钗(釵)chāi(chai1)

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.

Strokes8Radical钅
Cultural note

In ancient China, hairpins like 钗 were not just practical tools but also symbols of femininity and beauty, often used in courtship and marriage rituals, reflecting the cultural significance of a woman's appearance.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful woman with an ornate hairpin (钗) that holds her hair up. The character 钗 has the metal radical '金' (indicating something made of metal) and '才', which can evoke the image of a skilled artisan crafting a delicate piece of jewelry.

Meanings of 钗

chāi(chai1)
1ornamental hairpin
2hairpin
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 钗

钗Simplified
釵Traditional
8Strokes
钅Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 钗

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Podcast: 钗

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AI study notes for 钗

Usage Notes

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).

HSK Study Tips

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钗

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Etymology of 钗

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A metal 钅 fork 叉; 叉 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 钗?

Decomposition of 钗

IDS Structure⿰钅叉
钗Full character
=
钅jin1
left
叉cha1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 钗?

How to say ornamental hairpin in Chinese

“ornamental hairpin” in Chinese is钗chāi

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

钗

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

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Cultural Notes for 钗

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

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

Words containing this character2
钗chāihairpin釵
薛宝钗Xue Baochai, female character in Dream of Red Mansions, married to Jia Baoyu 賈寶玉|贾宝玉薛寶釵
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 钗

What does 薛宝钗 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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