How to Write 钗 (chāi) — Meaning “Hairpin”

Visualize a golden hairpin shaped like a fork (叉) made of metal (钅). The left side is the metal symbol, and the right side is a fork, so you can remember it as a "metal fork hairpin." This simple image links the shape and material directly to the character.

Write the left radical 钅 first (3 strokes: a short left-falling stroke, then a horizontal, then a horizontal, then a vertical rising stroke), then the right part 叉 (3 strokes: horizontal, left-falling, right-falling). A common mistake is writing the last stroke of 钅 as a horizontal line instead of a rising stroke (提), which changes the shape. Also, ensure the right side 叉 is balanced and not too wide.

钗 (chāi) means "hairpin" and has the right component 叉 (fork). 钆 (gá) is a chemical element (gadolinium) with a right component that looks like a hook (乚). 钇 (yǐ) is another element (yttrium) with a right component like a bent stroke (乙). The visual difference is in the right side: 钗 has a clear fork shape, while the others have simple curved strokes.

In modern Chinese, 钗 appears mostly in historical or literary contexts, such as in the word 金钗 (jīn chāi, golden hairpin) or 玉钗 (yù chāi, jade hairpin). It is not used in everyday conversation but remains in idioms and traditional jewelry descriptions. Culturally, hairpins were essential adornments for women in ancient China, often indicating social status or marital status.

Common words containing 钗 include: 金钗 (jīn chāi) — Golden hairpin (Simplified); 发钗 (fā chāi) — ornamental hairpin (double-pronged); 玉钗 (yù chāi) — Jade hairpin.