折

摺

shé, zhē, zhé

扌 + 斤

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

zhé (verb) to break; to fold; to bend; to turn

zhé (noun) discount; rebate

shé (verb) to break; to snap

zhē (verb) to turn over; to tip out

Etymology

Depicts a hand (扌) using an axe (斤) to chop something. Older forms of this character depicted an axe chopping a tree into two pieces.

About

折 means to break, snap, fold, or bend. It combines the hand radical 扌 (shǒu) and the axe 斤 (jīn), a hand wielding a tool for chopping. Older forms depict an axe splitting a tree in two, reinforcing the core idea of severing something. From this physical sense, the meaning extended to folding paper, offering a discount (as if cutting a price), or suffering a financial loss, all notions of something being reduced or bent.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 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)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

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

他把纸折起来。

Tā bǎ zhǐ zhé qǐlái.

He folded the paper.

这本书打五折。

Zhè běn shū dǎ wǔ zhé.

This book is 50% off.

树枝被风吹折了。

Shùzhī bèi fēng chuī zhé le.

The branch was broken by the wind.

她折了一朵纸花。

Tā zhé le yì duǒ zhǐ huā.

She folded a paper flower.

旅行中我们经历了曲折。

Lǚxíng zhōng wǒmen jīnglì le qūzhé.

We experienced twists and turns during the journey.

这个方案需要折中一下。

Zhège fāng'àn xūyào zhézhōng yīxià.

This plan needs to compromise a bit.

他因骨折住院了。

Tā yīn gǔzhé zhùyuàn le.

He was hospitalized due to a fracture.

经过多次谈判，双方终于达成了折衷协议。

Jīngguò duōcì tánpàn, shuāngfāng zhōngyú dáchéng le zhézhōng xiéyì.

After many negotiations, both sides finally reached a compromise agreement.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 扌

Component: 斤

Example Words