遮

• Pinyin: zhē
• Hanzi breakdown: 遮 = 辶 (walk) + 庶 (common; phonetic)

Meaning

To cover; to block; to shield; to conceal.

Used for blocking light, rain, view, or concealing something. Collocations: 遮阳 (shade from sun), 遮雨 (shelter from rain), 遮住 (cover up), 遮掩 (conceal). Can also mean to hide flaws or truths.

Examples

1. 她用手遮住阳光，眺望远方的地平线。 She shaded her eyes with her hand and looked out toward the horizon.
2. 这棵大树可以遮风挡雨，是乘凉的好地方。 This big tree shelters you from wind and rain and is a great place to sit in the shade.
3. 他试图用谎言遮住事实真相，但很快被揭穿。 He tried to cover up the truth with lies, but he was exposed quickly.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, concealment, protection

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请把窗帘拉上遮一下阳光。(Please draw the curtains to block the sunlight.)
• 这把伞既可以遮阳也可以挡雨。(This umbrella can both shade from the sun and shelter from rain.)

Don't Say

• 遮蔽光 — use 遮住光 or 遮光; 遮蔽 needs a full object, not just 光

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 辶 (walk radical) + 庶 (common/numerous, phonetic)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal