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炸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
炸
zhá
to deep fry
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
炸
zhá
to explode
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
炸
zhá
to explode; to fry in oil; to scald
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
炸
zhà
to deep fry
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
炸
zhà
to explode
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
炸
zhà
to explode; to fry in oil; to scald
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #1619, Hard
zhá(zha2)zha
primary
T2
1to deep fry
2to explode
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
炸zhá(zha2)
The character 炸 (zhá) primarily means 'to deep fry' or 'to explode.' In culinary contexts, it refers to the method of cooking food by submerging it in hot oil, resulting in a crispy texture. In a broader sense, it can also describe an explosive event, emphasizing suddenness or intensity.
Strokes9Radical火Frequency#1619DifficultyHard
Cultural note
炸 is commonly associated with traditional Chinese street food, such as 炸春卷 (zhá chūn juǎn - fried spring rolls) and 炸臭豆腐 (zhá chòu dòu fu - fried stinky tofu), which are popular snacks enjoyed by many.
Memory tip
Imagine a chef named 'Zha' who loves to deep fry his favorite dish in a big pot of bubbling oil. As he drops the food in, it 'zha's (炸) with a loud sizzling noise, just like the sound of an explosion. The character has the fire radical 火, highlighting the heat involved in frying.
Meanings of 炸
zhá(zha2)
primary
1to deep fry
2to explode
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 炸
炸Simplified
9Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1619Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 炸
Podcast: 炸
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AI study notes for 炸
Quick Contrast
炸 (zhá, to deep fry/explode) vs 煎 (jiān, to pan-fry) — use 炸 when referring to deep frying or an explosion, not when cooking with less oil.
Usage Notes
When using 炸, be mindful of its context; it is typically used in cooking or describing explosions. Common collocations include 炸鸡 (zhá jī - fried chicken) and 炸弹 (zhà dàn - bomb). Learners often confuse it with 煎 (jiān - to pan-fry), so pay attention to the differences in cooking methods.
HSK Study Tips
Although 炸 is not an HSK word, it connects with other cooking-related terms like 煮 (zhǔ - to boil) and 烤 (kǎo - to bake). Focus on the cooking verbs to build a practical vocabulary for food-related conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 炸 with 烧 (shāo - to cook or burn), leading to incorrect sentences like '我想烧鸡' instead of '我想炸鸡' (I want fried chicken). Ensure you use 炸 when referring to deep frying specifically.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 炸
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The character 炸 (zhá) primarily means 'to deep fry' or 'to explode.' In culinary contexts, it refers to the method of cooking food by submerging it in hot oil, resulting in a crispy texture. In a broader sense, it can also describe an explosive event, emphasizing suddenness or intensity.
When to use 炸
When using 炸, be mindful of its context; it is typically used in cooking or describing explosions. Common collocations include 炸鸡 (zhá jī - fried chicken) and 炸弹 (zhà dàn - bomb). Learners often confuse it with 煎 (jiān - to pan-fry), so pay attention to the differences in cooking methods.
炸 or something close to it
炸 (zhá, to deep fry/explode) vs 煎 (jiān, to pan-fry) — use 炸 when referring to deep frying or an explosion, not when cooking with less oil.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 炸 with 烧 (shāo - to cook or burn), leading to incorrect sentences like '我想烧鸡' instead of '我想炸鸡' (I want fried chicken). Ensure you use 炸 when referring to deep frying specifically.
Write 炸
炸
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Grammar patterns of 炸
炸 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 3 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
在我生长的伦敦，四周全是轰____后的断壁残垣。
In London, where I grew up, we were surrounded by bomb sites.
Common confusions with 炸
炸vs煮
zhǔ
Both are cooking methods but differ in technique.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to deep fry”?
or
Example sentences for 炸 (10)
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1
在我生长的伦敦，四周全是轰炸后的断壁残垣。
zài wǒ shēngzhǎng de lún dūn， sìzhōu quán shì hōngzhà hòu de duàn bì cán yuán。
In London, where I grew up, we were surrounded by bomb sites.
To minimize collateral damage maximum precision in bombing was required.
10
另点的一份炸薯条
lìng diǎn de yī fèn zhá shǔtiáo
a side order of fries
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Word Family of 炸
Words containing this character20
爆炸bàozhàexplosion
炸弹zhàdànbomb炸彈
炸zháto explode
炸药zhàyàoexplosive (material)炸藥
轰炸hōngzhàto bomb轟炸
轰炸机hōngzhàjībomber (aircraft)轟炸機
炸掉zhàdiàoto bomb
炸毁zhàhuǐto blow up炸燬
油炸yóuzháto deep fry
炸鸡zhájīfried chicken炸雞
爆炸物bàozhàwùexplosive (material)
炸死zhàsǐto kill with an explosion
定时炸弹dìngshízhàdàntime bomb定時炸彈
爆炸性bàozhàxìngexplosive
大爆炸dàbàozhàBig Bang (cosmology)
炸鱼zháyúdeep-fried fish炸魚
狂轰滥炸kuánghōnglànzhàto bomb indiscriminately狂轟濫炸
核爆炸hébàozhànuclear explosion
炸薯条zháshǔtiáofrench fries炸薯條
炸酱面zhájiàngmiànzha jiang mian: ground pork simmered with salty fermented soybean paste (or other sauce) over thick wheat noodles炸醬麵
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 炸
What does 爆炸 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 炸
炸 (zhá) refers specifically to deep frying, where food is submerged in hot oil, while 煎 (jiān) means to pan-fry, where food is cooked in a small amount of oil over heat. Both methods create different textures and flavors in food, with 炸 typically resulting in a crispier exterior.
Yes, aside from cooking, 炸 (zhá) can mean 'to explode' in contexts involving bursts or detonations. For example, you might hear it in discussions about fireworks or other explosive devices, highlighting its versatility in the Chinese language.
炸 (zhá) primarily means 'to deep fry' or 'to explode.' In cooking, it refers to the method of frying food in hot oil, resulting in a crispy texture. Additionally, it can describe something that bursts or explodes, such as a firecracker.
To use 炸 (zhá) in a sentence, you might say '我在家里炸鸡翅' (Wǒ zài jiālǐ zhà jīchì), meaning 'I am deep frying chicken wings at home.' It can also be used in contexts discussing explosions, like '炸弹爆炸了' (Zhàdàn bàozhàle), meaning 'The bomb exploded.'
炸 refers to deep frying in oil, while 煎 means pan-frying with less oil.
Yes, it can describe something that explodes, like a bomb.
You can use it to describe the method of cooking, for example, '我喜欢炸鱼' (I like to deep fry fish).
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