针脚 (zhēn jiǎ) — stitch (in sewing)

Definition

Refers to the individual stitches themselves on a sewn piece — their size, spacing, and evenness — rather than the act of sewing. Often used to comment on sewing quality (细密, 整齐, 牢固).

noun
stitch (in sewing)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 针脚。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu de zhēn jiǎ hěn zhěng qí.
    The stitches on this garment are very neat.
  • 针脚。
    Tā yòng shǒu gōng féng zhì de zhēn jiǎ fēi cháng xì mì.
    The stitches she sewed by hand are very fine and dense.
  • 针脚。
    Nǐ xū yào zài jiǎn chá yí xià zhēn jiǎ shì fǒu láo gù.
    You need to check again whether the stitches are secure.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

针zhēnneedle
脚jiǎofoot

针 means needle and 脚 means foot, together picturing the little foot made by a needle in sewing.

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →

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