Definitions

zhá old variant of 閘|闸[zhá]; sluice; lock (on waterway)
zhá sluice; sluice gate; to dam up water; (coll.) brake; (coll.) electric switch

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 闸 (zhá) is a phono-semantic compound that originally meant a water gate or sluice. Its traditional form 閘 is framed by the door radical 門 (mén), now simplified to 门, which indicates a barrier or opening that can be closed and opened. The phonetic component inside is 甲 (jiǎ). The term referred to a heavy drop-gate used in canals and rivers to manage water levels, control flooding, and aid navigation. This concept was later extended in modern usage to include mechanical brakes, electrical switches, and safety shutters.

Example Sentences Hide

请打开那个水

Qǐng dǎkāi nàge shuǐzhá.

Please open that sluice gate.

门需要维修。

Zhámén xūyào wéixiū.

The gate needs maintenance.

洪水前关闭了所有水

Hóngshuǐ qián guānbìle suǒyǒu shuǐzhá.

All sluice gates were closed before the flood.

工程师设计了新的门系统。

Gōngchéngshī shèjìle xīn de zhámén xìtǒng.

The engineer designed a new gate system.

由于电故障,整个大楼断电了。

Yóuyú diànzhá gùzhàng, zhěnggè dàlóu duàndiàn le.

Due to a circuit breaker failure, the entire building lost power.

他们用门调节水库的水位。

Tāmen yòng zhámén tiáojié shuǐkù de shuǐwèi.

They use gates to regulate the water level of the reservoir.

在紧急情况下,必须立即启动安全

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, bìxū lìjí qǐdòng ānquán zhá.

In emergency situations, the safety brake must be activated immediately.

通过精确控制门的开合,可以有效地管理灌溉网络。

Tōngguò jīngquè kòngzhì zhámén de kāihé, kěyǐ yǒuxiào dì guǎnlǐ guàngài wǎngluò.

By precisely controlling the opening and closing of the gates, the irrigation network can be managed effectively.