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剌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to slash, to cut in two; to contradictzg, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
perverseunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
unreasonableunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
absurdunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
to slash, to cut in two; to contradictzg, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
perverseunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
unreasonableunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
absurdunknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #16223, Hard
(la2)
primary
T2
  1. 1to slash, to cut in two; to contradict
  2. 2perverse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(la2)

The character 剌 (là) primarily means to slash or cut, often with a connotation of severity or violence. It can also imply contradiction or absurdity in certain contexts. This word is used in both literal senses, like cutting with a knife, and figurative ones, such as describing an unreasonable argument.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#16223DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of cutting or slashing often appears in traditional literature and martial arts, symbolizing conflict resolution or the struggle between opposing forces. The character may evoke imagery from historical battles or philosophical debates about right and wrong.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce warrior slashing through a thick forest with a sword, making a loud 'là' sound with every cut. The character has a knife radical (刀) on the left, emphasizing its meaning related to cutting. Picture the warrior's absurdity in trying to clear the entire forest in one day, highlighting the contradiction in his actions.

Meanings of 剌

(la2)
primary
1to slash, to cut in two; to contradict
2perverse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 剌

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 剌

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 剌

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fierce warrior slashing through a thick forest with a sword, making a loud 'là' sound with every cut. The character has a knife radical (刀) on the left, emphasizing its meaning related to cutting. Picture the warrior's absurdity in trying to clear the entire forest in one day, highlighting the contradiction in his actions.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 剌 in formal writing as it can be considered quite strong or aggressive. It often appears in contexts discussing debate or argumentation, so it’s important to pair it with appropriate nouns to avoid sounding too harsh. Common collocations include phrases related to conflict or absurd situations.

HSK Study Tips

While 剌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners who are at an advanced level. It connects with other verbs related to cutting or discussing contradictions, such as 切 (qiē) and 矛盾 (máodùn). Focus on its different usages to understand the nuances.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of cutting or slashing often appears in traditional literature and martial arts, symbolizing conflict resolution or the struggle between opposing forces. The character may evoke imagery from historical battles or philosophical debates about right and wrong.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 剌 with 刺 (cì), which means to stab or prick. For example, saying '我想要剌这个苹果' (I want to slash this apple) is incorrect; the correct term would be '切' (qiē) for cutting. Be mindful of the context and the nature of the action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 剌

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Etymology of 剌

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 束 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

knife

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 剌?

Decomposition of 剌

IDS Structure⿰束刂
Full Character
=
Shu4
left
dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 剌?

Write 剌

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 剌

剌 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

池子里的红鲤鱼泼____一响.

A carp splashed in the pond.

Example Sentences for 剌 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
池子里的红鲤鱼泼剌一响.

chí zǐ lǐ de hóng lǐ yú pō là yī xiǎng.

A carp splashed in the pond.
2
水池里泼剌一声, 一条大金鱼窜了起来.

shuǐ chí lǐ pō là yī shēng, , yī tiáo dà jīn yú cuàn le qǐ.

There was splash goldfish in the pond, and a big goldfish bobbed up.
3
布艺 、 剪纸 、 剌绣等民间手工艺品闻名遐迩.

bù yì、 、 jiǎn、 zhǐ 、 là xiù děng mín jiān shǒu gōng yì pǐn wén míng.

Cloth, paper cutting, embroidery and other famous folk arts and crafts.

Cultural Notes for 剌

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of cutting or slashing often appears in traditional literature and martial arts, symbolizing conflict resolution or the struggle between opposing forces. The character may evoke imagery from historical battles or philosophical debates about right and wrong.

Word Family of 剌

Words Containing This Character2
perverse
瓦剌Oirat Mongols (alliance of tribes of Western Mongolia) (Ming Dynasty term)
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 剌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 剌

It is pronounced as 'là'.