塞 Stroke Order — How to Write 塞
塞 is written in 13 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 土, 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.
塞 Radical and Character Components
earth.
Radical: 土 + 10 more strokes
塞 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- sāi
- sài
- sè
Meanings of 塞 in Chinese
1
sāi塞
To block, stop up, or fill a gap or opening; to plug or stuff.
这个管子破了，我们需要尽快把它塞住，防止漏水
This pipe is broken, we need to plug it quickly to prevent water leakage.
A thing used to block an opening or mouth of an object; a plug or stopper.
瓶子的塞子不见了，我得找一个把它堵上。
The bottle's stopper is missing, I need to find one to plug it.
2
sài塞
A strategic or fortified place on a border; a pass or fortress.
古老的边塞见证了许多历史事件。
The ancient border fortress witnessed many historical events.
3
sè塞
When pronounced 'sè', it means to block, stop up, or obstruct (as in '堵塞'); to shirk responsibility or prevaricate (as in '搪塞'); or to be suddenly enlightened (as in '顿开茅塞').
听了老师的讲解，我才顿开茅塞。
After listening to the teacher's explanation, I was suddenly enlightened.
Common Words and Phrases with 塞
1
To offer a bribe; to bribe.
为了让自己的申请能优先通过，他偷偷地给负责人塞了包袱。
To ensure his application would be prioritized, he secretly offered a bribe to the person in charge.
2
An affricate is a consonant sound consisting of a stop followed immediately by a fricative, produced at the same point of articulation.
汉语中的“zh、ch、sh”就是常见的塞擦音
The sounds “zh,” “ch,” and “sh” in Chinese are common affricates.
3
traffic jam
早上高峰期，这条路上经常塞车，所以最好提前出门。
During morning rush hour, this road often has traffic jams, so it's best to leave early.
4
To plug one's ears while stealing a bell; a metaphor for foolish self-deception, thinking that if one ignores a problem, it will disappear or others won't notice.
尽管证据确凿，他还是试图隐瞒自己的过失，这种塞耳偷铃的做法只会让他显得更加可笑。
Despite overwhelming evidence, he still tried to hide his mistakes; such a 'burying one's head in the sand' approach only made him look more ridiculous.
5
A plug gauge is a cylindrical measuring tool used to check the diameter of holes.
工人使用塞规检查了零件的内孔尺寸是否符合要求。
The worker used a plug gauge to check if the internal diameter of the part met the requirements.
6
Beyond the Great Wall (referring to the area north of the Great Wall in ancient China).
塞外的风光总是那么壮丽，广阔的草原和连绵的山脉让人心旷神怡。
The scenery beyond the Great Wall is always so magnificent; the vast grasslands and rolling mountains are refreshing.
7
A loss may turn out to be a gain; a blessing in disguise. It refers to a situation where a seemingly bad event ultimately leads to a positive outcome.
尽管公司在市场竞争中遭遇了一些挑战，但大家都觉得这是“塞翁失马，焉知非福”，因为它促使我们找到了更具竞争力的产品。
Although the company encountered some challenges in market competition, everyone felt it was a case of "a blessing in disguise", as it prompted us to find more competitive products.
8
A plosive, also known as a stop consonant or explosive sound, is a consonant produced by completely blocking the airflow in the vocal tract and then releasing it suddenly, like b, p, d, t, g, k in English.
在学习英语发音时，掌握好塞音b和p的区别很重要。
When learning English pronunciation, it is important to master the distinction between the plosives b and p.
9
To perform one's duties perfunctorily.
这份报告写得如此草率，明显是敷衍塞责
This report is written so carelessly, clearly it's a perfunctory job.
More words with 塞
- dǔ堵sè塞clog, blockage
- gěng梗sè塞infarction
- táng搪sè塞stall, fob off
- wā哇sāi塞Wow, Awesome
- yōng拥sè塞congestion, jam
- yōng壅sè塞congested, blocked
- yū淤sè塞clog, silt up
- zhì滞sè塞Congestion, Stagnation
- zǔ阻sè塞Blockage, Obstruction
- dù杜sāi塞to block; to obstruct; to clog
- gěng哽sè塞choke, obstruction
- sāi塞zhù住block, plug
- sāi塞zi子plug, stopper
- yào要sài塞fortress, citadel
- bí鼻sè塞stuffy nose, nasal congestion
- biān边sài塞border region, frontier
- huó活sāi塞piston, plunger
- yǔ语sè塞Speechless, Tongue-tied
- bì闭sè塞occlusion, blockage
- fèi肺shuān栓sè塞Pulmonary embolism
Idioms with 塞
- sāi塞běi北jiāng江nán南fertile and prosperous northern region
- sài塞shàng上jiāng江nán南fertile northern frontier region
- bá拔běn本sè塞yuán源eliminate a problem by destroying its root cause
- bì闭míng明sè塞cōng聪willfully ignorant of external affairs
- bì闭mù目sè塞ěr耳close eyes and block ears
- bì闭mù目sè塞tīng听willfully ignorant of external matters
- bì蔽cōng聪sè塞míng明willfully ignorant of facts
- dùn顿kāi开máo茅sè塞suddenly enlightened
- fū敷yǎn衍sè塞zé责perform duties perfunctorily and irresponsibly
- fū敷yǎn衍táng搪sè塞to be perfunctory and evasive
- hú胡chī吃hǎi海sāi塞eat and drink excessively
- jīng荆jí棘sè塞tú途a thorny path ahead
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Open the tool →Questions about 塞
What does 塞 mean in Chinese?
塞 (sāi) means “To block, stop up, or fill a gap or opening; to plug or stuff” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 塞?
塞 has 3 pronunciations: sāi, sài, sè.
How many strokes does 塞 have?
塞 has 13 strokes.
How do you write 塞?
塞 is written in 13 strokes, starting from the radical 土. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 塞?
The radical of 塞 is 土, and 塞 is a phono-semantic compound.