塞 (sāi) — (verb) to stuff, to squeeze in; to block, to stop up; (noun) cork, stopper
Definition
塞 is both 'to stuff/block' (verb) and 'cork/stopper' (noun). As a blocking verb it pairs with a thing that fills an opening, unlike 堵 which focuses on the result of being clogged.
verb
to stuffto squeeze into blockto stop up
noun
corkstopper
Measure word · 个
Easily confused
Examples
- 塞。Tā bǎ qián bāo sāi jìn le kǒu dài lǐ.He stuffed his wallet into the pocket.
- 塞。Xià shuǐ dào bèi lā jī sāi zhù le.The drain is blocked by trash.
- 。Zhè ge píng zi de sāi zi shì mù tou de.The stopper of this bottle is made of wood.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 宀宀miánhouse
- 工工gōngtwo items
- 廾廾gǒngtwo hands
塞 combines 宀 (house), 工 (two items), and 廾 (two hands), showing hands stuffing items into a house.
Appears in
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