to cover, to protect, to shield

JLPT N5 14 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (zhē) primarily means "to cover," "to shield," or "to block." It is often used when something physically blocks light, wind, or vision.

Common Contexts

You will see used in everyday situations like covering eyes from bright light, blocking wind with a wall, or leaves shading sunlight. It conveys a physical action of preventing something from passing through.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (zhē zhù): to cover or block completely, often used with light or view.
  • 遮挡 (zhē dǎng): to obstruct or block, commonly used for wind, noise, or vision.
  • 眼睛 (yòng shǒu zhē yǎn jīng): to cover eyes with hand, a common phrase.

Nuances

implies a deliberate or natural blocking, often physical. It differs from similar verbs like (dǎng), which can mean to block but also to resist or defend. focuses more on covering or shading.

Common Confusion

Avoid confusing with (zhē bì), which is a more formal or literary term for "to shield" or "to cover." is more common in spoken and everyday contexts.

Example Sentences

The leaves covered the sunlight, making the yard cool and shady.

He covered his eyes with his hand to avoid the glare.

This wall blocks the wind, so the yard is not as cold.