扎Tone 1

zhā ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 扌

扎 · zhā

to prick;

to pierce;

to tie;

to bind;

to pitch (a tent);

also used in transliterations

to prickto pierceto tie

Usage highlights

to pitch campto tie firmlyacupunctureto be stationedto struggleto braid hair

Synonyms

刺— to stab; to prick
绑— to tie; to bind
系— to fasten; to tie

Antonyms

解— to untie; to loosen
松— to loosen; to relax

Usage & contexts

Examples

He pricked his finger with a needle (扎针).
They pitched a tent in the forest (扎营).
The package was tied securely with rope (扎紧).
I got an injection at the hospital (打扎).

Collocations

to pitch camp(扎营)
to tie firmly(扎紧)
acupuncture(扎针)
to be stationed(驻扎)
to struggle(挣扎)
to braid hair(扎辫子)

Idioms

Struggling desperately(垂死挣扎)
Firmly rooted(根深蒂固地扎根)
Pitching camp and settling down(安营扎寨)

Cultural background

Originally meant to pierce or prick with a sharp object, later extended to tying and binding.
Used in military contexts for pitching camps and establishing bases.
Appears in medical contexts, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine for acupuncture.

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