夹

夾/裌

gā, jiā, jiá, jià

丷 + 夫

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

jiā (verb) to press from either side; to sandwich; to wedge between; to place in between

jiā (verb) to carry under armpit

jiā (verb) to mix; to mingle

jiá (adjective) double-layered; lined (of garments)

Etymology

Simplified form of 夾. Pictograph of a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides.

About

夹 (jiā), the simplified form of 夾, originated as a pictograph showing a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides. This arrangement conveyed pressing from both sides, squeezing, or being caught between opposing forces, and its meanings now include physically clamping or pinching with tools like tongs or chopsticks, as well as the spatial sense of being wedged between larger entities. While the traditional form still shows the side figures, the simplified version reduces them to simple strokes or dots flanking the central 大.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

用夹子把头发夹住。

Yòng jiāzi bǎ tóufa jiā zhù.

Use a clip to hold the hair in place.

他把文件夹在书里。

Tā bǎ wénjiàn jiā zài shū lǐ.

He sandwiched the document inside the book.

这个三明治里夹着火腿和奶酪。

Zhège sānmíngzhì lǐ jiāzhe huǒtuǐ hé nǎilào.

This sandwich has ham and cheese inside.

他把钱夹在笔记本中。

Tā bǎ qián jiā zài bǐjìběn zhōng.

He put the money between the pages of his notebook.

妈妈用筷子给我夹菜。

Māma yòng kuàizi gěi wǒ jiā cài.

Mom used chopsticks to pick up food for me.

他在两栋高楼间的夹道中穿行。

Tā zài liǎng dòng gāolóu jiān de jiā dào zhōng chuānxíng.

He walked through the narrow alley between the two tall buildings.

他的语气里夹杂着一丝失望。

Tā de yǔqì lǐ jiāzázhe yī sī shīwàng.

His tone carried a trace of disappointment.

小公司在大企业的夹缝中求生存。

Xiǎo gōngsī zài dà qǐyè de jiāfèng zhōng qiú shēngcún.

Small companies struggle to survive in the narrow gaps between large enterprises.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丷

Component: 夫

Example Words