剌 meaning and stroke order
To slash, to cut in two; to contradict
How to write 剌, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 剌
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- perverse
- unreasonable
- absurd
- variant of 拉[la2] (Note: 剌 was the character used prior to simplification and remains the standard in Taiwan, while in mainland China, 拉 has replaced 剌)
How 剌 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Knife.
刂 gives the meaning and 束 hints at the sound.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 剌
Picture a tied bundle 束 (shù) on the left being slashed apart by the knife 刂 on the right. The knife is the meaning part, so 剌 is about cutting something in two.
Read lá, 剌 means to slash or cut open, and it is the standard form for this sense in Taiwan, while mainland China usually writes 拉 instead. Read là, it appears in literary words for perverse or unreasonable behavior, such as 乖剌 (guāilà). Example: 手上剌了一个口子 (shǒu shang lá le yí ge kǒuzi), there is a cut slashed on my hand.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 剌 with 刺 (cì, to stab, thorn). 剌 has 束 with a box shape in the middle, while 刺 has 朿 with no box, so check the left side carefully.
Characters that contain 剌
Learning 剌 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 剌
How many strokes are in 剌?
剌 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 剌 mean?
剌 (lá) means to slash, to cut in two; to contradict.
How do you pronounce 剌?
剌 is pronounced lá, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 剌?
The radical of 剌 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 剌 under this radical.
Is 剌 the same character as 喇 in 喇叭?
No. 喇 (lǎ) in 喇叭 (lǎba, horn) has a mouth radical 口 added on the left. 剌 alone is the knife character meaning to slash.
Should I write 剌 or 拉 for 'to cut open'?
In mainland China, write 拉, since it has replaced 剌 in this sense. If you are writing for Taiwan, 剌 is still the standard form.