塞
sāi, sè, sài
Description
这个字有几个读音，意思也不一样，最常见的是"塞"，就是把东西放进一个小空间里。
This character has several pronunciations and different meanings; the most common '塞' means to put something into a small space.
读"sài"的时候，它常常指长城上的关口。
When pronounced 'sài', it often refers to a pass on the Great Wall.
Meanings
塞sāi
to stuff, cram, or squeeze into
他把书都塞进书包里。
He stuffed all the books into his backpack.
塞sāi
a stopper or cork
这个瓶子的塞子丢了。
The stopper of this bottle is lost.
塞sè
blocked, congested (formal/written)
路上堵塞得很厉害。
The road is heavily congested.
塞sài
a strategic pass or frontier fortress
长城有很多重要的关塞。
The Great Wall has many important passes.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
originally meant to block or fill; the frontier-pass sense (sài) comes from blocking enemy passage.
- Nuance
sāi is everyday spoken speech; sè appears mostly in written compounds like 阻塞, 堵塞.
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