Chinese word

指甲

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǐ jiǎ

Meaning

  • nounfingernail

Example

我剪了指甲。wǒ jiǎn le zhí jiǎ

I cut my fingernails.

Illustration for 指甲 (fingernail)

More examples

他有咬指甲的习惯。tā yǒu yǎo zhí jiǎ de xí guàn

He has a habit of biting his fingernails.

Core concept

A hard natural plate that caps a fingertip, shielding it while providing a surface for grooming and decoration.

Common phrases

  • 剪指甲jián zhí jiǎ

    cut fingernails

  • 咬指甲yǎo zhí jiǎ

    bite fingernails

  • 涂指甲油tú zhí jiǎ yóu

    apply nail polish

Similar words

爪zhǎo: A hard nail or claw growing from the end of a finger or an animal's toe.
趾甲zhí jiǎ: The hard natural covering at the end of a toe, protecting the toe and trimmed for grooming.

Definition in Chinese

覆盖在手指末端的坚硬角质层，保护指尖并可被修剪或装饰。fù gài zài shóu zhǐ mò duān de jiān yìng jiǎo zhì céng bǎo hù zhǐ jiān bìng kě bèi xiū jiǎn huò zhuāng shì

Word origin

指甲 (zhǐjiǎ, "fingernail") is built from 指 (zhǐ, "finger") and 甲 (jiǎ, "shell or protective covering"), a clear combination for the tough covering at a finger's end.

Usage tips

  • The English word "nail" also names a metal fastener, but the Chinese word here refers to the body part rather than hardware.

Related words

  • 指甲油zhí jiǎ yóunail polishnoun
  • 指甲刀zhí jiǎ dāonail clippersnoun

Word lists with this word