指甲

• Pinyin: zhǐ jia
• Hanzi breakdown: 指 = finger; 甲 = pictograph of armor/shell

Meaning

Fingernail; nail. The hard covering at the tip of fingers and toes.

Common in daily life and beauty contexts. Common phrases: 剪指甲 (cut nails), 指甲油 (nail polish), 脚指甲 (toenail). Also used in expressions like 指甲盖 (fingernail-sized, meaning tiny).

Examples

1. 我需要剪一下指甲，太长了。 I need to cut my nails, they're too long.
2. 她涂了红色的指甲油。 She applied red nail polish.
3. 咬指甲是一个不好的习惯。 Biting nails is a bad habit.

Usage Guide

Context: body, grooming, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你的指甲太长了。(Your nails are too long.)
• 我把指甲弄断了。(I broke my nail.)

Don't Say

• 指甲的颜色 when meaning nail polish (Say 指甲油的颜色 for nail polish color)

Origin & History

Compound of 指 (finger) and 甲 (shell, armor). The armor/covering of the finger.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal