HanziGuru.刹 · shā
刹
shā[sha1]Tone 1

to brake

HSK 7
View Traditional FormSwitch to Traditional
剎
Multiple Readings (多音字):
Guru Deep Dive

English · to brake

Cached lesson
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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:9
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (knife radical 刂) is slender and compact, while the right side (chà 犮/刹 phonetic element) is wider and spans more horizontal width, maintaining overall balance.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form is 剎, where the right side preserves more ancient component structures. The simplified form 刹 adjusts the right component slightly for streamlined handwriting.
1. Meaning

to brake (a vehicle)

to stopto checkBuddhist temple (from Sanskrit kṣetra)
VerbNeutral#transportation#actions#religion
Sample Usage
  • 汽车前面突然有人，司机连忙刹车。
    qìchē qiánmian tūrán yǒurén, sījī liánmáng shāchē.
    Suddenly someone appeared in front of the car, and the driver hastily applied the brakes.
  • 骑自行车下坡时要注意刹车。
    qí zìxíngchē xiàpō shí yào zhעyì shāchē.
    You need to pay attention to the brakes when riding a bicycle downhill.
2. Sound
/[ʂa˥]/Tone: 55
刹
shāsha1
++
¯(55)
=shā
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
sha
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "a" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
sh
Type: Retroflex Fricative
Sounds like: sh (retroflex sh sound like in 'shh')
UnaspiratedRetroflex
Airflow Tactile Test: Hollow wind sound through curled tongue channel.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back near hard palate
Final Rhyme
a
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: -a rhymes with ah
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ah'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 stays high and even, similar to holding a musical note at the top of your vocal range without dipping.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the retroflex initial 'sh-' with the alveolar initial 's-', or confusing tone 1 with rising tone 2.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Keep your hand flat and steady at eye level, making a flat horizontal motion representing Tone 1 high level pitch.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 9 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (knife radical 刂) is slender and compact, while the right side (chà 犮/刹 phonetic element) is wider and spans more horizontal width, maintaining overall balance.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form is 剎, where the right side preserves more ancient component structures. The simplified form 刹 adjusts the right component slightly for streamlined handwriting.

4. Components

Radical 刂 · Knife Radical (knife, cutting, severing)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 刂 (Indicates cutting, halting, or sharp action)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 犮 (original sound: shā)

A sharp knife (刂) cuts through motion, forcing a sudden halt just like pressing the brakes.

  • 木 tree or wood base inside the right component
  • 刂 knife radical indicating cutting or stopping
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally used in Buddhist translations to phoneticize Sanskrit words like 'kṣetra' (temple/realm). Later, through semantic borrowing and folk usage, it took on the meaning of 'to stop' or 'to brake' due to its association with a sharp cutting action.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from a phonetic loan for foreign Buddhist terms to an indigenous verb meaning to stop or apply vehicle brakes.

  • In classical texts, it frequently appears in Buddhist terminology as an abbreviation for temple grounds.
6. Sinosphere
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

You are driving down the road when suddenly a tree blocks your path. You grab your knife-sharp reflexes (刂) and slam on the BRAKES (shā) to stop just in time!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
杀
shāto kill, to slay, to murderPhonetic Core (声旁)
剎
+ 刂 (knife)
殺
+ 殳 (wooden spear)
脎
+ ⺼ (meat)
Explore this family →
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
杀(shā)
Meaning 'to kill', it lacks the knife/side components found in 刹.
杉(shān)
Features the tree radical (木) on the left instead of the knife radical (刂), meaning Chinese fir.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
骑车下坡时一定要注意[___]车。
Clue: shā
Common Learner Pitfall

Mistaking 刹 (shā) for 杀 (shā - to kill) when typing pinyin abbreviations or reading fast, leading to confusing vehicle maintenance with violent acts.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does 刹 mean and how is it pronounced?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to brake' (shā)?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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