How to Write 夹 (jiā/jiá) — Meaning “to clip / to sandwich / folder”

Imagine a sandwich: the top bread is the horizontal line (一), and the two left-falling strokes are the fillings being clipped together. The final right-falling stroke is the bottom bread, completing the sandwich. This helps you remember that 夹 means "to sandwich" or "to clip."

Write the top horizontal stroke first, then the first left-falling stroke, followed by a shorter horizontal stroke, then another left-falling stroke, and finally the right-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the second left-falling stroke too long or crossing the wrong places; keep the two left-falling strokes balanced and the final stroke slightly lower.

Unlike 夹, the character 不 (bù, meaning "not") has a vertical stroke after the left-falling stroke, and ends with a right dot. 丏 (miǎn, a rare character) has a different bottom structure with a curved vertical line instead of two left-falling strokes. In 夹, there is no vertical stroke, only diagonal lines.

夹 is common in words like 夹子 (jiā zi, clip or folder) for office supplies, and 夹攻 (jiā gōng, pincer attack) in military or sports. It also appears in 夹衣 (jiá yī, lined garment), which is a double-layered piece of clothing. In daily life, you might hear 夹心 (jiā xīn) for sandwich fillings in food.

Common words containing 夹 include: 夹子 (jiā zi) — clip / tongs / folder; 夹攻 (jiā gōng) — Attack from both sides; pincer attack.; 夹衣 (jiá yī) — Lined garment; double-layered clothing..