叉 Stroke Order — How to Write 叉

Stroke Order

叉 is written in 3 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 又, then complete the remaining strokes.

Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.

叉 Radical and Character Components

Components:又丶

叉 is an ideographic compound. A hand 又 grasping an object 丶.

Radical: 又 + 1 more stroke

叉 Pronunciation and Pinyin

chā
chá
chǎ
chà

Meanings of 叉 in Chinese

chā叉

To cross or intersect, especially to place hands on hips (叉腰).

她双手叉腰，看起来很不高兴。

She stood with her hands on her hips, looking very unhappy.

A utensil with prongs used for piercing or scooping, like a fork.

请把叉子递给我。

Please pass me the fork.

chá叉

To block, obstruct, or get stuck (e.g., in a narrow passage or intersection), often implying entanglement or wedging.

小船叉在河道中间，动弹不得。

The small boat was stuck in the middle of the river channel, unable to move.

chǎ叉

To spread apart or open (e.g., legs).

她把腿叉开，坐在地上。

She spread her legs and sat on the ground.

chà叉

Refers to the branching or splitting of the end of a long object, such as tree branches or hair.

这根树枝分叉了。

This tree branch has forked.

Common Words and Phrases with 叉

chā叉chē车

A forklift is a powerful industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances.

仓库工人熟练地开着叉车，将货物堆放到指定位置。

Warehouse workers skillfully drive forklifts, stacking goods in designated locations.

chā叉chú锄

A hand tool with two or more prongs, used for hoeing or cultivating soil in a garden.

我用叉锄在菜园里松土，准备种植新的蔬菜。

I used the fork hoe to loosen the soil in the vegetable garden, preparing to plant new vegetables.

chā叉shǒu手

A traditional Chinese gesture of courtesy, either cupping one hand in the other before the chest or putting the palms together, similar to a bow or a praying gesture.