叉

chá
#2,226 most
frequent character
to cross, be stuck

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

叉 is a small picture: 又, a right hand, holds 丶, an object. That gives the first sense, 'to hold with fingers,' which grew to 'fork' and 'to cross.' Other readings branch out: chà 'to fork,' chǎ 'to open,' chá 'to cross' or 'to block.'

叉 as a component in other characters

sound2 characters
picture2 characters

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