剎 (shā) - To brake & to stop

剎Tone 1

shā ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

三姗

剎 · shā

To brake;

to stop;

moment;

instant;

also refers to a Buddhist temple or monastery.

To braketo stopmoment

Usage highlights

BrakeIn an instantAncient templeBuddhist templeTemple groundsMoment of enlightenment

Synonyms

  • 停— to stop
  • 止— to cease
  • 寺— temple (Buddhist context)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He slammed on the brakes (刹车).
  • It happened in an instant (刹那间).
  • The ancient temple is well-preserved (古刹).
  • The vehicle came to a sudden stop (刹住).

Collocations

  • Brake(刹车)
  • In an instant(刹那间)
  • Ancient temple(古刹)
  • Buddhist temple(佛刹)
  • Temple grounds(刹土)
  • Moment of enlightenment(刹那觉悟)

Idioms

  • In the blink of an eye(刹那间)
  • Temple bell and drum(刹钟鼓)
  • Brake failure(刹车失灵)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in Buddhism to refer to temples or monasteries, derived from Sanskrit 'kṣetra' meaning 'land' or 'field'.
  • The character combines 'to kill' (杀) with 'knife' (刂), suggesting the concept of cutting off or stopping.
  • In modern usage, primarily associated with braking systems in vehicles.

FAQ