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狭窄 (xiá zhǎi) — narrow (physical or abstract)

Definition

Used for both physical space (a narrow corridor) and abstract scope (narrow knowledge/horizons). Stronger and more literary than 窄; for 'narrow-minded' specifically, 狭隘 is more common than 狭窄.

adjective
narrow (physical or abstract)

Examples

  • 狭窄，。
    Zhè tiáo shān lù hěn xiá zhǎi, kāi chē yào xiǎo xīn.
    This mountain road is very narrow; drive carefully.
  • 狭窄，。
    Tā de zhī shi miàn bǐ jiào xiá zhǎi, xū yào duō dú shū.
    His scope of knowledge is rather narrow; he needs to read more.
  • 狭窄。
    Wǒ men chuān guò le yì tiáo xiá zhǎi de zǒu láng.
    We passed through a narrow corridor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

狭xiánarrow
窄zhǎinarrow

狭 and 窄 both convey narrowness, making 狭窄 mean tight space or limited scope.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 狹; 狭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
夾
夾jiā狹xiá
Same sound today

The traditional form 狹 pairs 犭 (dog) with 夾 as a sound part; the simplified 狭 is a later shorthand.

Open 狭 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà窄zhǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top part 穴 shows a cave or hole, while the lower part 乍 gives the sound.

Open 窄 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Size & Dimension

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