劃 (huá) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

劃

huá[hua2]Tone 2

to cut, to slash, to scratch, to strike

HSK 2

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划

Multiple Readings (多音字):

Guru Deep Dive

English · to cut, to slash, to scratch, to strike

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:6

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (刂) should be narrower and slightly higher, while the right component (𠂔) occupies more width and reaches slightly lower.

Simplification Logic: The traditional character 劃 uses 害 on the right, which was simplified to 𠂔 in the modern simplified character 划.

1. Meaning

to cut or to scratch

to strike a matchto row a boat (when pronounced huó in certain dialectal or compound contexts, but standard verb is huá)

VerbNeutral#actions#tools#destruction

Sample Usage

小心别把手划破了。
Xiǎoxīn bié bǎ shǒu huá pò le.
Be careful not to cut your hand.
他用火柴划了一下。
Tā yòng huǒchái huá le yí xià.
He struck a match.

2. Sound

/[xwa²⁵]/Tone: 35

劃

huáhua2

´(35)

=huá

Initial Consonant

Type: Velar Fricative

Sounds like: h sound like in 'hat'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Gentle throat friction (like fogging glasses on a cold day).

Tongue & Mouth Position: Back of the tongue approaches the soft palate to create friction while air passes freely.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: -ua rhymes with 'wah'

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'wah'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T2 (35)

3 → 5 (35)

2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 rises from mid to high pitch, exactly like asking 'Huh?' in surprise.

👂

Listening trap: Do not confuse Tone 2 (huá) with Tone 4 (huà, meaning to delimit or to draw), which falls sharply.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Move your hand upward diagonally from left to right like an airplane taking off, reflecting the rising Tone 2 pitch.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 6 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (刂) should be narrower and slightly higher, while the right component (𠂔) occupies more width and reaches slightly lower.

Simplification Logic: The traditional character 劃 uses 害 on the right, which was simplified to 𠂔 in the modern simplified character 划.

4. Components

Radical 刂 · Knife Radical (knife, cutting instrument)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 刂 (indicates cutting, slicing, or weapon-like actions)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 戈 (original sound: gua / hua series phonetic root)

A knife (刂) next to a spear/halberd shape (𠂔) represents sharp implements used for slashing and cutting.

刂 vertical knife radical indicating cutting
𠂔 phonetic and structural component

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

2· Phonetic Root: 畫 ()

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the knife radical (刂) to signify the action of cutting and a phonetic element providing the sound.

Semantic Evolution: Originally denoting physical cutting with a sharp blade, it expanded to include striking matches, scratching surfaces, and metaphorical uses like allocating or planning.

The knife radical 刂 is always written on the right side in this character, modifying the sound and meaning.

6. Sinosphere

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine holding a sharp KNIFE (刂) and slashing (huá) through the air with a swishing 'WAH' sound, cutting a mark into a tree.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

划

huáto cut, to rowStandard base form

哗

huáclamor, noisyReplaces knife radical with mouth radical (口) for sounds and shouting

桦

huàbirch treeReplaces knife radical with wood radical (木) for trees

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

画(huà)

画 means to draw or picture, enclosed inside a box (囗), whereas 划 has the knife radical (刂) for cutting.

话(huà)

话 means speech, featuring the speech radical (讠) on the left instead of the knife.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

小心彆把桌子面[___]破了。

Clue: huá

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone: using Tone 4 (huà - picture/draw) instead of Tone 2 (huá - cut/slash).

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see the character 划 with the knife radical 刂, what primary action does it represent?

Production: How do you write the verb meaning 'to cut or scratch' using the knife radical?

劃huáto cut, to slash, to scratch, to strike

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