HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #8439, Very Hard
榨
zhà
to extract (juice)
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #8439, Very Hard
榨
zhà
to press for juice; a juicer; a vegetable
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #8439, Very Hard
zhà(zha4)zha T4
1to press
2to extract (juice)
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March 24, 2026
榨(搾)zhà(zha4)
The character 榨 (zhà) primarily means 'to press' or 'to extract,' particularly in the context of juicing fruits or vegetables. It is often used when referring to the process of obtaining juice by applying pressure, and can also denote the tool used for this purpose, such as a juicer. This character is commonly used in cooking and food preparation contexts.
Strokes14Radical木Frequency#8439DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
榨 is often associated with traditional Chinese juice extraction methods, which may involve manual techniques using simple tools, reflecting a cultural appreciation for fresh, natural ingredients in Chinese cuisine.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant fruit being squeezed by a heavy weight, with juice flowing out. The character 榨 looks like a tree (木, which is the radical for wood) under pressure, symbolizing the extraction process. Connect 'zhà' with the sound 'ja' in 'juice' to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 榨
zhà(zha4)
1to press
2to extract (juice)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 榨 means.
About 榨
榨Simplified
搾Traditional
14Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8439Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 榨
Podcast: 榨
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AI Study Notes for 榨
Quick Contrast
榨 (zhà) vs 挤 (jǐ) — use 榨 when referring specifically to extracting juice, while 挤 can refer to squeezing in a broader sense.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 榨 with similar-sounding characters, so it's important to pay attention to pronunciation and tones. This term is generally used in informal contexts, particularly in culinary discussions. Common collocations include 榨汁 (zhàzhī, to extract juice) and 榨菜 (zhàcài, pickled vegetable).
HSK Study Tips
While 榨 is not currently listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other food-related vocabulary such as 水果 (shuǐguǒ, fruit) and 厨房 (chúfáng, kitchen). Focus on using it in sentences related to cooking and food preparation to reinforce its practical usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 榨 with 乍 (zhà), which means 'to suddenly,' leading to incorrect usage in culinary contexts. Always remember that 榨 specifically relates to pressing or extracting juice.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 榨
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How Well Do You Know 榨?
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Knowing 榨 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
榨 = 木 + 窄. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 榨
IDS Structure⿰木窄
榨Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
窄zhai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 榨?
How to say to press in Chinese
“to press” in Chinese is榨zhà
The character 榨 (zhà) primarily means 'to press' or 'to extract,' particularly in the context of juicing fruits or vegetables. It is often used when referring to the process of obtaining juice by applying pressure, and can also denote the tool used for this purpose, such as a juicer. This character is commonly used in cooking and food preparation contexts.
When to use 榨
Learners often confuse 榨 with similar-sounding characters, so it's important to pay attention to pronunciation and tones. This term is generally used in informal contexts, particularly in culinary discussions. Common collocations include 榨汁 (zhàzhī, to extract juice) and 榨菜 (zhàcài, pickled vegetable).
榨 or something close to it
榨 (zhà) vs 挤 (jǐ) — use 榨 when referring specifically to extracting juice, while 挤 can refer to squeezing in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 榨 with 乍 (zhà), which means 'to suddenly,' leading to incorrect usage in culinary contexts. Always remember that 榨 specifically relates to pressing or extracting juice.
Write 榨
榨
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Grammar Patterns of 榨
榨 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.
他们要最大限度地____取英国人的财富。
They mean to bleed the British to the utmost.
Example Sentences for 榨 (10)
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1
他们要最大限度地榨取英国人的财富。
tā mén yào zuì dà xiàn dù dì zhà qǔ yīng guó rén de cái fù。
They mean to bleed the British to the utmost.
2
我们被一点一滴地压榨了12年。
wǒ mén bèi yī diǎn yī dī dì yā zhà le12 12。
We have been gradually bled for twelve years.
3
那个放高利贷者用高利息把我的钱全部榨光了.
nà gè fàng gāo lì dài zhě yòng gāo lì xī bǎ wǒ de qián quán bù zhà guāng le.
The moneylender has been bleeding me white with high rate of interest.
4
苛刻的房东向我们榨取重租.
kē kè de fáng dōng xiàng wǒ mén zhà qǔ zhòng zū.
Hard landlords racked us with high rents.
5
富国压榨穷国长达数十载。
fù guó yā zhà qióng guó cháng dá shù shí zǎi。
For decades rich nations have been screwing money out of poor nations.
6
战争榨干了原本繁荣的亚美尼亚经济。
zhàn zhēng zhà gān le yuán běn fán róng de yà měi ní yà jīng jì。
The war has bled the once-strong Armenian economy dry.
7
他是要把公司榨干。
tā shì yào bǎ gōng sī zhà gān。
He's just milking the company dry.
8
我感觉我的感情被榨得一滴不剩了.
wǒ gǎn jué wǒ de gǎn qíng bèi zhà dé yī dī bù shèng le.
I felt as if every drop of emotion had been squeezed out of me.
9
她感到自己的感情被榨得一滴不剩了.
tā gǎn dào zì jǐ de gǎn qíng bèi zhà dé yī dī bù shèng le.
She felt as if every drop of emotion had been squeezed out of her.
10
每个星期修我那部雪佛兰老爷车一点一滴地把我榨穷了.
měi gè xīng qī xiū wǒ nà bù xuě fó lán lǎo yé chē yī diǎn yī dī dì bǎ wǒ zhà qióng le.
Weekly repairs on my old Chevy were nickel - and - diming me to death.
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Word Family of 榨
Words Containing This Character6
榨zhàto press搾
压榨yāzhàto press壓榨
榨取to extract
榨菜hot pickled mustard tuber
榨汁机juicer榨汁機
榨油to press
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 榨
What does 压榨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 榨
You can say '我想榨橙汁' (Wǒ xiǎng zhà chéngzhī) which means 'I want to extract orange juice.'
榨 is commonly used with fruits like oranges, apples, and vegetables like cucumbers for juicing.
While not commonly found in idioms, 榨 is often part of phrases related to cooking or food preparation.
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