Definitions

chái (noun) firewood
chái (adjective) thin; lean

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "柴" is structurally composed of the semantic element "木", denoting wood, combined with the phonetic component "此", which together originally signified brushwood or firewood gathered for use. Its primary meaning has remained consistently tied to this combustible material, but through extended usage, the character acquired descriptive connotations of leanness, dryness, or brittleness, applied metaphorically to objects, animals, or even physical states. This semantic broadening reflects a natural linguistic progression where a tangible noun develops attributive qualities based on perceived characteristics, all while the character's form has maintained its essential construction with "木" and "此" in a fixed arrangement, preserving an intuitive link to its woody roots without significant graphical alteration.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈去市场买了火。

Māma qù shìchǎng mǎi le cháihuo.

Mother went to the market and bought firewood.

我们用火点燃了篝火。

Wǒmen yòng cháihuo diǎnrán le gōuhuǒ.

We used firewood to light the bonfire.

这辆卡车使用油发动机。

Zhè liàng kǎchē shǐyòng cháiyóu fādòngjī.

This truck uses a diesel engine.

米油盐是日常生活所需。

Chái mǐ yóu yán shì rìcháng shēnghuó suǒ xū.

Firewood, rice, oil, and salt are daily necessities.

他正在后院用斧子劈

Tā zhèngzài hòuyuàn yòng fǔzi pī chái.

He is splitting firewood with an axe in the backyard.

山区许多人家仍然烧取暖。

Shānqū xǔduō rénjiā réngrán shāo chái qǔnuǎn.

Many households in the mountainous areas still burn wood for heating.

这种电混合动力系统很高效。

Zhè zhǒng chái diàn hùnhé dònglì xìtǒng hěn gāoxiào.

This diesel-electric hybrid power system is very efficient.

古老的窑烧制出的瓷器别有韵味。

Gǔlǎo de cháiyáo shāozhì chū de cíqì bié yǒu yùnwèi.

The porcelain fired in the ancient wood-burning kiln has a unique charm.