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遮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遮zhēto cover up (a shortcoming)HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #8102, Very Hard
遮zhēto screen offHSK 7, v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #8102, Very Hard
遮zhēto hideHSK 7, v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #8102, Very Hard
遮zhēto concealHSK 7, v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #8102, Very Hard
遮zhēto cover, to protect, to shieldHSK 7, v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #8102, Very Hard
zhē(zhe1)zhe T1
  1. 1to cover up (a shortcoming)
  2. 2to screen off
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

遮zhē(zhe1)

The character 遮 (zhē) means to cover, conceal, or shield something from view. It is commonly used in contexts where one intends to hide something, such as a physical object or an abstract idea like a shortcoming. The nuance often implies a protective or concealing action, rather than outright denial.

Strokes14Radical辶Frequency#8102DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

遮 is often used in Chinese literature and art to denote the theme of concealment, which reflects a cultural appreciation for subtlety and the hidden aspects of life. For example, in traditional Chinese poetry, the idea of covering may symbolize emotions that are not openly expressed.

Memory tip

Imagine a big umbrella (遮) shielding you from the rain, protecting you from getting wet. The top part of the character looks like a roof, representing coverage, while the bottom part suggests movement, like pulling the umbrella over you to hide from the rain.

Meanings of 遮

zhē(zhe1)
1to cover up (a shortcoming)
2to screen off
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 遮 means.

About 遮

遮Simplified
14Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8102Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 遮

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Podcast: 遮

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AI study notes for 遮

Quick Contrast

遮 (zhē) vs 藏 (cáng) — use 遮 when emphasizing covering or shielding from view, while 藏 focuses on hiding or storing away.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 遮 with other covering verbs like 覆 (fù) or 蓋 (gài). 遮 is more about shielding or hiding from view, while 覆 often implies a complete covering. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, so pay attention to the surrounding words to gauge the appropriate register.

HSK Study Tips

While 遮 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with other verbs of action and description that involve covering or obscuring. Focus on practicing it with phrases or sentences that highlight its use in everyday situations.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 遮 incorrectly for complete coverage, like saying '他遮住了整个房间' (Tā zhē zhùle zhěnggè fángjiān), which sounds awkward; instead, use a word like 覆 (fù) for that context. Additionally, remember to use it in contexts where concealment is clear, rather than just for physical covering.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遮

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Etymology of 遮

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 庶 represents the sound.

Memory hint

walk

Semantic (meaning)辶
+
Phonetic (sound)庶
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

遮 = 辶 + 庶. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 遮

IDS Structure⿺辶庶
遮Full character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
庶shu4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 遮?

How to say to cover up (a shortcoming) in Chinese

“to cover up (a shortcoming)” in Chinese is遮zhē

The character 遮 (zhē) means to cover, conceal, or shield something from view. It is commonly used in contexts where one intends to hide something, such as a physical object or an abstract idea like a shortcoming. The nuance often implies a protective or concealing action, rather than outright denial.

When to use 遮

Learners often confuse 遮 with other covering verbs like 覆 (fù) or 蓋 (gài). 遮 is more about shielding or hiding from view, while 覆 often implies a complete covering. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, so pay attention to the surrounding words to gauge the appropriate register.

遮 or something close to it

遮 (zhē) vs 藏 (cáng) — use 遮 when emphasizing covering or shielding from view, while 藏 focuses on hiding or storing away.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 遮 incorrectly for complete coverage, like saying '他遮住了整个房间' (Tā zhē zhùle zhěnggè fángjiān), which sounds awkward; instead, use a word like 覆 (fù) for that context. Additionally, remember to use it in contexts where concealment is clear, rather than just for physical covering.

Write 遮

遮

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

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Grammar patterns of 遮

遮 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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.

这种做生意的方式偷偷摸摸,____遮掩掩。

It is a sneaky and underhand way of doing business.

Example sentences for 遮 (10)

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1
这种做生意的方式偷偷摸摸,遮遮掩掩。

zhè zhǒng zuòshēngyì de fāngshì tōutōu mō mō, zhē zhē yǎn yǎn。

It is a sneaky and underhand way of doing business.
2
这里的海岸线属于世界上最无遮蔽的一段了。

zhèlǐ de hǎi’àn xiàn shǔyú shìjiè shàng zuì wú zhē bì de yī duàn le。

This is some of the most exposed coastline in the world.
3
他戴帽以遮斑秃。

tā dài mào yǐ zhē bān tū。

He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness.
4
我们怎么知道你不只是在为自己的朋友遮掩呢?

wǒmen zěnme zhīdào nǐ bù zhǐshì zài wèi zìjǐ de péngyou zhē yǎn ne?

How do we know you're not just covering up for your friend?
5
他打了个哈欠,都懒得抬抬手遮一下嘴巴。

tā dǎ le gè Hā qiàn, dōu lǎnde tái tái shǒu zhē yíxià zuǐba。

He yawns, not troubling to cover his mouth.
6
窗帘拉上了一半以遮挡阳光。

chuānglián lā shàng le yíbàn yǐ zhēdǎng yángguāng。

The curtains were half drawn to cut out the sunlight.
7
大多数难民等待救济的地方都不能挡风遮雨。

dàduōshù nànmín děngdài jiùjì de dìfang dōu bù néng dǎng fēng zhē yǔ。

The area where most refugees are waiting is exposed to the elements.
8
为什么不给所有的镜头都配上遮光罩呢?

wèishénme bù gěi suǒyǒu de jìngtóu dōu pèi shàng zhē guāng zhào ne?

Why aren't all lenses supplied with a lens hood?
9
他们很爱传闲话,而且常常口无遮拦。

tāmen hěn ài chuán xiánhuà, érqiě chángcháng kǒu wú zhē lán。

They were gossipy and not always discreet.
10
稍高些的植物遮挡了房内的视线。

shāo gāo xiē de zhíwù zhēdǎng le fáng nèi de shìxiàn。

Taller plants interrupt the views from the house.

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Word Family of 遮

Words containing this character17
遮zhēto hide
遮住zhēzhùto block
遮掩zhēyǎnto cover
遮盖zhēgàito hide遮蓋
遮挡zhēdǎngto shelter遮擋
遮蔽zhēbìto cover
遮阳zhēyángto shield from the sun遮陽
遮遮掩掩zhēzhēyǎnyǎnto be secretive; to try to cover up (idiom)
遮羞布zhēxiūbùG-string
遮天蔽日zhētiānbìrìomnipresent
旁遮普pángzhēpǔPunjab state of India
遮羞zhēxiūto hush up a scandal
一手遮天yìshǒuzhētiānlit. to hide the sky with one hand
旁遮普省pángzhēpǔshěngPunjab province of Pakistan
遮阳板zhēyángbǎnsun visor遮陽板
遮断zhēduànto cut off遮斷
遮目鱼zhēmùyúmilkfish (Chanos chanos)遮目魚
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 遮

What does 遮住 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 遮

You can say '他遮住了他的缺点' (Tā zhē zhùle tā de quēdiǎn), meaning 'He concealed his shortcomings.'

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