Chinese word

夹

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiā

Meaning

  • verbpick up

Example

请用筷子夹这块肉。qǐng yòng kuài zi jiā zhè kuài ròu

Please use chopsticks to pick up this piece of meat.

Illustration for 夹 (pick up)

More examples

她把两个文件夹在一起带走了。tā bǎ liǎng gè wén jiàn jiā zài yì qǐ dài zǒu le

She held the two documents together and took them away.

Core concept

Pressure from both sides brings an object into a grip or a space between two things.

Common phrases

  • 用筷子夹菜yòng kuài zi jiā cài

    pick up food using chopsticks

  • 夹起来jiā qǐ lái

    pinch up

  • 夹在一起jiā zài yì qǐ

    hold together

Similar words

拿ná: Grasping and holding an object with the hand.
取qǔ: Taking or retrieving an object with the hand or a tool.
捏niē: Pinching a small object between the fingers to hold it.

Definition in Chinese

用两边或用工具把东西夹住并拿起或固定。yòng liǎng biān huò yòng gōng jù bǎ dōng xī jiā zhù bìng ná qǐ huò gù dìng

Word origin

夹 (jiā, "to hold between two sides") is the simplified form of 夾 (jiā, "to hold between two sides"), an older character whose shape shows something enclosed by two sides.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English pick up, this verb describes the two-sided grip itself, so it fits chopsticks, tongs, and fingers but not a one-sided lift with an open hand.

Other meanings

  • pinchverb
  • sandwichverb

Opposites

  • 放开fàng kāireleaseverb
  • 拿开ná kāiremoveverb

Related words

  • 夹子jiā ziclothespinnoun
  • 夹心jiā xīnfillingnoun

Word lists with this word