乍

zhà

Definitions

zhà (adverb) suddenly; abruptly

zhà (adverb) at first

Etymology

Pictograph of a blade for cutting trees. Original form of 柞. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

乍 was originally a pictograph of a blade used for cutting trees, serving as the early form of 柞. Through phonetic loan, it now expresses suddenness or the very first moment of an action. As an adverb, it marks an abrupt onset, a brief duration, or an initial stage of an event or physical sensation.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我乍一看很惊讶。

Wǒ zhà yī kàn hěn jīngyà.

I was very surprised at first glance.

他乍听到这件事很震惊。

Tā zhà tīng dào zhè jiàn shì hěn zhènjīng.

He was shocked when he suddenly heard about this matter.

天气乍变让人不适。

Tiānqì zhà biàn ràng rén bùshì.

The sudden change in weather makes people uncomfortable.

乍到新环境她有点紧张。

Zhà dào xīn huánjìng tā yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.

Newly arrived in a new environment, she is a bit nervous.

消息乍传大家都很惊讶。

Xiāoxi zhà chuán dàjiā dōu hěn jīngyà.

When the news suddenly spread, everyone was very surprised.

他乍一见面就喜欢上了她。

Tā zhà yī jiànmiàn jiù xǐhuān shàngle tā.

At first meeting, he liked her.

乍听噩耗他晕倒了。

Zhà tīng èhào tā yūndǎo le.

Upon suddenly hearing the bad news, he fainted.

乍看简单的问题往往复杂。

Zhà kàn jiǎndān de wèntí wǎngwǎng fùzá.

Problems that seem simple at first glance are often complex.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 乍

Example Words