How to Write 臿 (chā) — Meaning “To insert; to stick in; a spade.”

Imagine a mortar (臼) with a long stick being pushed down into it to pound rice, like a spade. The stick is the vertical line and the cross stroke at the bottom, forming the shape of a tool. This mental image connects the parts to the ideas of inserting and a spade.

The top part 臼 should be written wide and squat, with the two horizontal strokes evenly spaced. The bottom part starts with a left-slanting stroke (撇) and then a vertical hook, ending with a final horizontal stroke that does not cross the hook. A common mistake is making the bottom part too tall, so keep it compact and centered under the mortar.

臿 has a clear vertical line and hook at the bottom, while 臽 (xiàn) looks like a person falling into a pit with a lid (臼 over a person). 臾 (yú) contains 臼 over 人, but the bottom is a person with a bent leg, not a spade shape. Visually, 臿 is more angular with a straight bottom component, unlike the rounded forms of the others.

臿 is rarely used alone today, appearing mostly in compound words like 臿秧 (transplanting rice) and 臿入 (insert). It is not in the HSK list, so learners may encounter it mainly in agricultural or technical contexts. The character reflects ancient farming tools, offering a glimpse into traditional Chinese agricultural practices.

Common words containing 臿 include: 臿秧 (chā yāng) — To transplant rice seedlings.; 臿话 (chā huà) — To interrupt; to chime in.; 臿入 (chā rù) — To insert; to stick into..