夹子
jiā zi · clip; clamp
这个夹子很牢固。
This clip is very sturdy.
Chinese character · HSK 5
夹 (jiā) — “to clip / to squeeze”
The character is an ideogram depicting a large person (大) holding two objects (丷) tightly tucked under their arms, conveying the action of clipping, squeezing, or carrying under the arm.
Memory cue
A BIG person (大) firmly CLIPS two small objects (丷) under their arms.
Video mnemonic
Watch 夹 in motion
See the visual story unfold, then connect it to the words and sentences below.
Common ways to use 夹
These uses show 夹 in a physical clip and in food with a filling held between outer layers.
夹心
jiā xīn · filled; with a filling
我喜欢吃夹心饼干。
I like eating filled cookies.
Usage note: Often used before a food noun for something with filling between outer layers.
Inside the character
- 夫 (husband / man) — meaning component. Often a sound-bearing piece in 扶 / 肤 / 麸 — and stands alone meaning husband or grown man.
- 丷 (horns / split) — meaning component. Two short strokes pointing apart — a structural top piece in characters like 兰 / 半 / 关.
Where 夹 comes from
In Oracle Bone Script, it depicted a large person standing with two smaller people or objects tucked under their arms, representing the action of pressing from both sides or carrying something closely.
Learn 夹 the visual way. InkSeal pairs every HSK 1–6
character with an illustration like this one, Common-use words and sentences,
component breakdowns, etymology, and recall-first review. The first 100
characters are free.
More characters: 妈 (mā, mother / mom) · 寿 (shòu, longevity / long life) · 屏 (píng, screen / folding screen) — or browse the full character library.