Definitions

chá (noun) stubble left after harvest; crop aftermath
chá (noun) opportunity; chance
chá (verb) to plant a second crop

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "茬" is structured with the grass radical 艹 positioned above the component 在, which offers phonetic guidance and subtly conveys a sense of presence or residue. Its earliest attested meanings center on the agricultural concept of stubble, specifically the remains of crops left in the field after harvesting. From this concrete origin, the term's application widened to describe a complete cycle of cultivation, such as a single planting or harvest period. Later semantic development saw the character adopt more abstract uses in colloquial language, where it can refer to an instance or matter, often exemplified in phrases like "找茬" meaning to pick a quarrel. The character's form, combining botanical and locative elements, has consistently reflected its core association with plant matter that persists or recurs.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

田里的麦还在。

Tián lǐ de mài chá hái zài.

The wheat stubble in the field is still there.

农民们正在清理玉米

Nóngmín men zhèngzài qīnglǐ yùmǐ chá.

The farmers are cleaning up the corn stubble.

他喜欢找别人的

Tā xǐhuān zhǎo biérén de chá.

He likes to pick faults with others.

这是第一蔬菜。

Zhè shì dì yī chá shūcài.

This is the first crop of vegetables.

收割后,田里留下了很多稻

Shōugē hòu, tián lǐ liú xiàle hěnduō dào chá.

After harvesting, a lot of rice stubble was left in the field.

他接着我的继续说下去。

Tā jiēzhe wǒ de chá jìxù shuō xiàqù.

He continued speaking by picking up my topic.

如果你再找,我就生气了。

Rúguǒ nǐ zài zhǎo chá, wǒ jiù shēngqì le.

If you pick faults again, I will get angry.

尽管这庄稼收成不好,但农民们没有气馁。

Jǐnguǎn zhè chá zhuāngjia shōucheng bù hǎo, dàn nóngmín men méiyǒu qìněi.

Although this crop's harvest is not good, the farmers are not discouraged.