截

• Pinyin: jié
• Hanzi breakdown: 截 = 隹 (bird) + 戈 (spear, cutting off)

Meaning

To cut off; to intercept; to block. As a measure word, a section or segment.

Describes cutting something into pieces, intercepting movement or communication, or blocking a path. As a measure word, counts sections of long objects like rope, wood, or time periods.

Examples

1. 警方在路口截住了逃跑的嫌疑人。 The police stopped the fleeing suspect at the intersection.
2. 请把这根绳子截成三段。 Please cut this rope into three pieces.
3. 他截取了视频中最精彩的一截。 He clipped the best segment from the video.

Usage Guide

Context: physical actions, interception, measurement

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把这段木头截成两截。(Cut this piece of wood into two sections.)
• 敌方的信号被我方截获了。(The enemy's signal was intercepted by our side.)

Don't Say

• 我截了书 — 截 is for cutting physical objects or intercepting; use 读 for reading books

Origin & History

截 = 隹 (bird) + 戈 (weapon) — cutting off flight

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal