Chinese word

扎

Pronunciation

Pinyinzā

Meaning

  • verbtie

Example

她把头发扎成马尾。tā bǎ tóu fa zā chéng má yǐ

She tied her hair into a ponytail.

Illustration for 扎 (tie)

More examples

绳子被扎得很紧，解不开。shéng zi bèi zhā de hěn jǐn jiě bù kāi

The rope is tied very tightly and cannot be untied.

Core concept

Firm pressure makes something stay in place, either by wrapping around it or by entering it with a point.

Common phrases

  • 扎马尾辫zhā má wěi biàn

    tie a ponytail

  • 扎成辫子zhā chéng biàn zi

    tie into a braid

  • 扎紧zhā jǐn

    tie tightly

Similar words

绑bǎng: Using string or rope to tie things together or hold them in a bundle.
系xì: Using a string to tie and secure clothing or a decorative item.
捆kǔn: Tightly bundling luggage or other things with rope or coarse cord.
刺cì: Piercing the skin or an object with a needle or another pointed object.

Definition in Chinese

把绳子、布条等围绕物体捆紧，使不松开；也可指用尖物穿入或刺入。bǎ shéng zi bù tiáo děng wéi rào wù tǐ kún jǐn shǐ bù sōng kāi yě kě zhǐ yòng jiān wù chuān rù huò cì rù

Word origin

The binding sense is historically written as 紮 (zā, "bind tightly"), while 扎 (zhā, "prick") is the older piercing form, and simplification brought them together in writing.

Usage tips

  • In neutral everyday contexts involving needles or ear piercing, English usually uses "pierce" or "insert" rather than the more forceful-sounding "stab".

Other meanings

  • stabverb
  • bundleverb

Opposites

  • 散开sàn kāispread outverb
  • 松开sōng kāiloosenverb

Related words

Word lists with this word