插 meaning and stroke order
To insert; stick in; pierce
How to write 插, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 插
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to insert
- stick in
- pierce
- to take part in
- to interfere
- to interpose
How 插 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 臿 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 插
插 (chā) is a hand 扌 next to 臿 (chā), which gives the sound. Picture your hand pushing something in, like a plug into a socket or a flower into a vase.
插 means to put something into something else, and it also extends to cutting into a conversation or a situation. It appears in everyday words like 插嘴 (chāzuǐ) and 插手 (chāshǒu). Example: 别插嘴。(Bié chāzuǐ.) Don't interrupt.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse the right side 臿 with 舀 (yǎo) in 揺 or with 臽 in 陷 (xiàn), since all have a similar bottom part. Also keep the first tone chā and do not mix it up with 差 (chā/chà), which sounds similar but means difference or lacking.
Common words with 插
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 插手 | chāshǒu | to get involved in; to meddle | HSK 7-9 |
| 插嘴 | chāzuǐ | to interrupt (sb talking); to butt in | HSK 7-9 |
| 插图 | chātú | illustration | HSK 7-9 |
| 插入 | chārù | to insert; to stick in; to plug in | |
| 插进 | chājìn | to insert; to stick in | |
| 插曲 | chāqǔ | music played during a movie, play etc; incidental music | |
| 插管 | chāguǎn | (medicine) to intubate; intubation | |
| 安插 | ānchā | to place in a certain position; to assign to a job | |
| 插头 | chātóu | plug | |
| 插播 | chābō | to interrupt (a radio or TV program) with a commercial insert, breaking news etc; to put a | |
| 插上 | chāshang | to plug into; to insert | |
| 插座 | chāzuò | socket; outlet | |
| 插孔 | chākǒng | jack; socket | |
| 插队 | chāduì | to cut in line; to jump a queue |
插 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 插
How many strokes are in 插?
插 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 插 mean?
插 (chā) means to insert; stick in; pierce. A common word with it is 插手 (chāshǒu), meaning "to get involved in; to meddle".
How do you pronounce 插?
插 is pronounced chā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 插?
The radical of 插 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 插 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 插?
The traditional form of 插 is 揷. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 插 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 插 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 插 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say plug something in using 插?
Use 插上 (chā shàng) or 插入 (chārù). For example, 把插头插上 (bǎ chātóu chā shàng) means plug in the plug. A power socket is 插座 (chāzuò).
What is the difference between 插手 and 插嘴?
插手 (chāshǒu) means to get involved in or meddle in someone's affairs. 插嘴 (chāzuǐ) means to interrupt while someone is speaking. Both are often used in the negative, like 别插手 (bié chāshǒu), stay out of it.