夹

• Pinyin: jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 夹 = 大 (big person) with two 人 (people) on sides, suggesting being sandwiched or held

Meaning

To clip; to clamp; to pick up with chopsticks. Holding something between two surfaces.

Versatile verb for holding things between surfaces. Used for chopsticks picking up food, clips holding papers, or being sandwiched between things. Also appears in compound nouns like 文件夹 (folder) and 夹子 (clip).

Examples

1. 用筷子夹菜是中国餐桌礼仪的基本技能。 Using chopsticks to pick up food is a basic skill in Chinese table etiquette.
2. 他把重要文件用夹子夹在一起，放进公文包里。 He clipped the important documents together and put them in his briefcase.
3. 奶奶总是往我碗里夹各种好吃的。 Grandma always picks up all kinds of delicious food and puts them in my bowl.

Usage Guide

Context: eating, office, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 帮我夹一块鱼肉。(Help me pick up a piece of fish.)
• 把这些纸夹起来。(Clip these papers together.)

Don't Say

• 夹住这个想法 (夹 is for physical objects — for abstract concepts like ideas, use 抓住 or 把握)

Origin & History

Pictograph showing something held between two points, representing the action of clamping or holding.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal