交叉

• Pinyin: jiāo chā
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 = 亠 + 父 — to intersect, exchange; 叉 = pictograph of crossed lines — fork, cross

Meaning

To intersect; to cross; to overlap. Lines, paths, or areas meeting at a point or overlapping.

Used both literally (roads crossing, arms crossed) and figuratively (fields overlapping, schedules conflicting). Common in technical contexts: 交叉学科 (interdisciplinary), 交叉感染 (cross-infection). Also describes interwoven or alternating patterns. Can function as verb, adjective, or noun.

Examples

1. 两条高速公路在这里交叉形成了一个复杂的立交桥。 Two highways intersect here to form a complex interchange.
2. 人工智能和医学的交叉研究取得了重大突破。 Interdisciplinary research between artificial intelligence and medicine has achieved major breakthroughs.
3. 他双臂交叉站在那里，表情严肃。 He stood there with his arms crossed, looking serious.

Usage Guide

Context: technical, academic, physical description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这两个领域有很多交叉的地方。(These two fields have a lot of overlap.)
• 请在交叉路口小心驾驶。(Please drive carefully at intersections.)

Don't Say

• 混淆'交叉'和'交错' (These are close but 交叉 emphasizes crossing at points while 交错 suggests interweaving throughout; roads cross at an intersection, but roots interweave)

Origin & History

Composed of 交 (to intersect, exchange) + 叉 (fork, cross). Both characters involve the concept of crossing or meeting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal