How to Write 铡 (zhá) — Meaning “To cut with a fodder cutter”

Imagine a metal blade (钅) that follows strict rules (则) to chop grass evenly, like a farmer cutting fodder. Picture the right side 则 as a stack of hay (the top part) with a knife (刂) next to it. This visual helps you remember the shape and meaning together.

Write the left side 钅 first with five strokes: 撇、横、横、竖、提. Then write the right side 则 with six strokes: 竖、横折、撇、点、竖、竖钩. A common mistake is making the 则 part too wide — the whole character should be balanced, with the metal radical slightly narrower than the right side.

The character 铡 has the right side 则 (which contains 贝 and 刂), while 钙 (gài) has 丐 and 钚 (bù) has 不. Their meanings are very different: 铡 is a cutting tool, but 钙 means 'calcium' and 钚 means 'plutonium.' Remember: 铡 is for chopping grass, not for chemistry.

You will most often see 铡 in words like 铡刀 (fodder cutter) or 铡草 (to cut grass for animal feed). These terms appear in farming guides, historical stories, or Chinese period dramas where criminals were executed with a large blade. It is not common in everyday conversation, but important for understanding traditional tools and culture.

Common words containing 铡 include: 铡草 (zhá cǎo) — To cut grass for fodder; 铡刀 (zhá dāo) — Fodder cutter; large chopper; 铡断 (zhá duàn) — To cut off with a large blade.