Definition
插 (chā) means 'to insert, stick into' — pushing something into a space without force or damage, unlike 刺 (cì 'to stab'), which pierces. In compounds like 插嘴 (interrupt) and 插手 (meddle), it means to cut in or interfere, often negatively — stronger than 参与 (cān yù 'participate') and more specific than 干扰 (gān rǎo 'disturb').
verb
to insertto stick intoto cut into interruptto meddle (in compounds like 插嘴, 插队, 插手)
Easily confused
- 查chásound-aliketo look up (a word, information in a reference)
- 差chàsound-alike(adjective) poor, inferior, not up to standard
- 茶chásound-aliketea (the drink)
- 叉chāsound-alike(noun) fork, pitchfork, forked tool
- 岔chàsound-alike(noun) fork in the road, bifurcation, branch (of a road, river, mountain range)
Examples
- 插。Qǐng bǎ nǐ de kǎ chā jìn jīqì lǐ.Please insert your card into the machine.
- ，。Dàjiā dōu zài páiduì, nǐ bù néng chā duì.Everyone is queuing; you can't cut in line.
- 。Biérén shuōhuà shí bú yào chā zuǐ.Don't interrupt when others are speaking.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.