Chinese word

拉链

Pronunciation

Pinyinlā liàn

Meaning

  • nounzipper

Example

我的裤子拉链坏了。wǒ de kù zi lā liàn huài le

The zipper on my pants broke.

Illustration for 拉链 (zipper)

More examples

请把拉链拉上。qǐng bǎ lā liàn lā shàng

Please close the zipper.

Core concept

Two rows of teeth meet or part when a small slider travels along them, closing or opening a gap.

Common phrases

  • 把拉链拉上bǎ lā liàn lā shàng

    close the zipper

  • 把拉链拉开bǎ lā liàn lā kāi

    open the zipper

  • 坏的拉链huài de lā liàn

    broken zipper

Similar words

拉锁lā suǒ: A toothed closure on clothing or bags, used in northern Chinese speech.
拉链儿lā liànr: A toothed closure on clothing or bags, used with a casual spoken r-ending.

Definition in Chinese

一种由两排互相啮合的齿或相连的链节与可滑动拉头组成，通过滑动拉头使两侧连接或分离，从而闭合或打开衣物、包袋等开口的机械闭合件。yì zhǒng yóu liǎng pái hù xiāng niè hé de chǐ huò xiāng lián de liàn jié yǔ kě huá dòng lā tóu zǔ chéng tōng guò huá dòng lā tóu shǐ liǎng cè lián jiē huò fēn lí cóng ér bì hé huò dǎ kāi yī wù bāo dài děng kāi kǒu de jī xiè bì hé jiàn

Word origin

The compound 拉链 (lāliàn, "pull-chain") joins 拉 (lā, "pull") with 链 (liàn, "chain"), describing a linked closure that works through a pulling motion.

Usage tips

  • Short problem reports such as 拉不上 (lā bu shàng, "cannot close by pulling") and 卡住 (kǎ zhù, "be stuck") are useful everyday patterns when a zipper does not work properly.

Opposites

Related words

  • 拉链头lā liàn tóuzipper pullnoun
  • 拉链口袋lā liàn kǒu dàizippered pocketnoun

Word lists with this word