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March 24, 2026
沙Shā(Sha1)
The character 沙 (shā) primarily refers to 'sand' and is used to describe granular materials like gravel and powder. It can also denote a raspy or hoarse voice in certain contexts. This character is commonly seen in both everyday language and specific terms related to geography and materials.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#3014DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 沙 is often associated with traditional landscapes and poetry, where sand is used to evoke feelings of tranquility and the passage of time. It is also a common element in Chinese art depicting natural scenes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant beach made of soft, granulated sand (沙) that feels like tiny grains under your feet. The pronunciation 'shā' sounds like 'shhh'—the sound you might make when trying to keep quiet on a sandy beach.
Meanings of 沙
Shā(Sha1)
1granule
2hoarse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 沙
沙Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3014Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沙
Podcast: 沙
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AI Study Notes for 沙
Quick Contrast
沙 (shā, sand) vs 土 (tǔ, soil) — use 沙 when referring specifically to sand or granular materials, while 土 refers to earth or soil.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant beach made of soft, granulated sand (沙) that feels like tiny grains under your feet. The pronunciation 'shā' sounds like 'shhh'—the sound you might make when trying to keep quiet on a sandy beach.
Usage Notes
When using 沙, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar characters. It is generally informal but can appear in formal contexts when discussing geography or materials. Common collocations include phrases like '沙子' (shāzi, sand) and '沙滩' (shātān, beach).
HSK Study Tips
Although 沙 is not in the HSK levels, it connects well with other basic level vocabulary related to nature and materials. Students should focus on its pronunciation and different contexts, especially in describing landscapes and textures.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 沙 is often associated with traditional landscapes and poetry, where sand is used to evoke feelings of tranquility and the passage of time. It is also a common element in Chinese art depicting natural scenes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沙 with similar-sounding characters like 啥 (shá, meaning 'what'). Remember that 沙 specifically refers to 'sand'. Another common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'shā' with a flat tone, instead of the correct rising tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沙
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Grammar Patterns of 沙
沙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Daniel leaned back on the sofa, still chewing on his apple.
10
这艘船停靠在细沙滩上。
zhè sōu chuán tíng kào zài xì shā tān shàng。
The ship has come to rest on the fine sand.
Cultural Notes for 沙
💡Did you know?
在中国，沙子常用于建筑和制作陶器。沙土是制作陶器的重要材料，古代中国有着丰富的陶瓷文化。
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 沙 is often associated with traditional landscapes and poetry, where sand is used to evoke feelings of tranquility and the passage of time. It is also a common element in Chinese art depicting natural scenes.
📜Proverb
‘沙里淘金’这个成语比喻在大量的无用事物中寻找有用的东西。它提醒我们在生活中要善于发现价值。
Word Family of 沙
Compounds18
莎sha1a kind of sedge grass that used to be woven into raincoats
鲨sha1shark
鯊sha1shark
娑suo1to dance, to frolic; to lounge; to saunter
痧sha1cholera; colic
挲sa1to feel or fondle with the fingers
唦
乷
桫suo1horse chestnut
裟sha1cassock; monk's robe
挱
桬
猀
硰
逤
閯
髿
鯋
Words Containing This Character20
沙Shāgranule
沙发shāfāsofa (loanword)沙發
沙漠shāmòdesert
沙滩shātānbeach沙灘
长沙Changsha prefecture-level city and capital of Hunan province in south central China長沙
沙拉salad (loanword)
沙龙shālóngsalon (loanword)沙龍
沙子shāzisand
沙特Saudi
加沙Gaza
沙尘airborne sand and dust沙塵
长沙市Changsha prefecture-level city and capital of Hunan province in south central China長沙市
沙特阿拉伯Saudi Arabia
沙袋sandbag
沙丘sand dune
泥沙silt
沙场sandpit沙場
沙哑hoarse沙啞
沙皇czar (loanword)
风沙fēngshāsandstorm風沙
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 莎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沙
Yes, 沙 (shā) can be used as a surname in Chinese. It's important to recognize when a character functions as a name versus its common meaning, as this can change the context of conversations. Understanding surnames can also help in social interactions.
沙 (shā) means 'sand,' while 沙滩 (shātān) means 'beach' or 'sandy shore.' The addition of 滩 (tān) specifies a location where sand accumulates, highlighting its use in geographical contexts. Knowing this distinction is useful for learners discussing landscapes.
沙 (shā) can be used in sentences to describe physical objects or conditions, such as '沙子很细' (The sand is very fine). It can also appear in expressions related to sound, like '他的声音沙哑' (His voice is hoarse). Learning how to use 沙 in context helps improve fluency.
沙 (shā) primarily means 'sand,' and can also refer to something that is hoarse or raspy. In addition, it can represent a surname, Sha, and is used as an abbreviation for Tsar or Tsarist Russia. Understanding its various meanings can enhance your Chinese vocabulary.
沙 refers specifically to 'sand', while 土 means 'soil' or 'earth', which is much coarser and richer in nutrients.
Yes, 沙 can be used in formal discussions about geography, construction, or science, especially when referring to sand-related materials.
