Meaning
扎 is a versatile character with multiple pronunciations and meanings. As zhā, it primarily means to pierce, prick, or stick something into something else, like getting an injection or a thorn pricking your finger. It also means to tie up or bind things together. As a measure word (also zhā), it refers to bundles of items tied together.
Usage
扎 is commonly used in medical contexts (打针/扎针 for injections), everyday situations involving piercing or binding, and as a measure word for bundled items like flowers or straw. Note that this character has three pronunciations: zhā (to prick, to tie), zā (only in 扎挣 'to struggle'), and zhá (only in 挣扎 'to struggle'). The zhā pronunciation is by far the most common.
Examples
- 01护士给我扎针的时候我都不敢看。.I don't even dare to look when the nurse gives me an injection.
- 02他买了一扎玫瑰花送给女朋友。.He bought a bundle of roses to give to his girlfriend.
Measure words
- 扎一扎花 (a bundle of flowers)
Common collocations
- 扎针to give an injection
- 扎手to prick one's hand, thorny (figuratively: tricky)
- 扎实solid, sturdy, substantial
- 扎根to take root, to settle down
Antonyms
Origin
The character 扎 combines the hand radical 扌 with 札, suggesting the action of using hands to bind or pierce. The character's multiple meanings all relate to the physical action of inserting, piercing, or binding things tightly.