Definition
闸 (zhá) is a noun for devices that stop or control flow — a brake (on a vehicle), a sluice gate (on water), or an electric switch/circuit breaker. Unlike 刹车 (shāchē), which specifically means a vehicle brake, 闸 is broader and also covers water and electrical controls. 开关 (kāiguān) is the everyday word for a light or power switch; 闸 for electricity usually refers to a larger circuit breaker.
noun
brake (on a vehicle)sluice gatelock (on a waterway)electric switch or circuit breaker
Easily confused
- 问wènlook-aliketo ask
- 炸zhàsound-aliketo explode, to burst, to blow up
- 闲xiánlook-alikefree (not busy), idle, unoccupied
- 炸zhàsound-aliketo deep fry (usually pronounced zhá)
- 里lǐlook-alikeinside; interior; within
- 扎zhāsound-aliketo tie; to bind; to bundle
- 间jiānlook-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 渣zhāsound-alikedregs, residue
- 闪shǎnlook-aliketo dodge, to duck out of the way
- 榨zhàsound-aliketo press, to squeeze (juice, oil)
Examples
- 闸。Zìxíngchē de zhá bú tài língmǐn le.The brake on the bike is not very responsive.
- 。Shuǐzhá kěyǐ kòngzhì héliú de shuǐliàng.A sluice gate can control the water flow of a river.
- ，。Tiào zhá hòu, zhěnggè fángjiān dōu hēi le.After the circuit breaker tripped, the whole room went dark.
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