插 chā to insert
to insert; to stick in
How to remember 插: 扌 hand + 臿 pound grain = to insert. Tired of having to pound grain by hand, grandma buys a mill and asks her grandson to insert the plug for her.
Component breakdown
插 = 扌 hand + 臿 pound grain
- 扌 hand
- 臿 pound grain
Tired of having to pound grain by hand, grandma buys a mill and asks her grandson to insert the plug for her.
How it is used
- Takes an object directly: 插花 chāhuā "flower arranging," 插座 chāzuò "electrical socket."
- 插嘴 chāzuǐ "to butt into a conversation" and 插手 chāshǒu "to meddle, get involved" extend the physical "insert" into social interference - usually with a negative flavor: 别插手 "don't get involved."