截

jié

隹 + 𢦏

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

jié (verb) to cut off; to stop; to intercept

jié (noun) section; chunk; length

Etymology ideographic

A bird 隹 cut off from its nest 十 by a weapon 戈

About

截 means to cut, sever, or intercept, halting forward progress. It is a phono-semantic compound with the radical 戈 (gē, a halberd or bladed spear) on the right, its strokes extending around to signify sharp severing. The remaining internal elements provide the pronunciation and historically combine bird and weapon imagery to evoke the fast, precise strike against a moving target. The character's usage spans literal chopping of materials like wood or fabric into measured lengths, and abstract interception of communications, supplies, or vehicles before they reach their destination.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

申请截止日期到了。

Shēnqǐng jiézhǐ rìqī dào le.

The application deadline has arrived.

他截住了那个球。

Tā jié zhù le nàge qiú.

He intercepted the ball.

我们需要截断这段木头。

Wǒmen xūyào jiéduàn zhè duàn mùtou.

We need to cut off this piece of wood.

警察拦截了那辆车。

Jǐngchá lánjié le nà liàng chē.

The police intercepted that car.

请截取屏幕的一部分。

Qǐng jiéqǔ píngmù de yī bùfen.

Please capture a part of the screen.

这条河被大坝截流了。

Zhè tiáo hé bèi dàbà jiéliú le.

This river was dammed up.

从截面看，这个图形是圆的。

Cóng jiémiàn kàn, zhège túxíng shì yuán de.

From the cross-section, this shape is circular.

他们试图截获敌人的通信。

Tāmen shìtú jiéhuò dírén de tōngxìn.

They attempted to intercept the enemy's communication.

Related Characters

Component: 隹

Component: 𢦏

截