罩 (zhào): cover

Measure Word

一个罩 gè

Meanings

1 cover
2 shade
3 hood
4 to cover
5 to envelop

Examples

HSK 3

灯罩坏了，需要换一个。

Dēngzhào huài le, xūyào huàn yīgè.

The lampshade is broken, we need to replace it.

HSK 4

请戴好口罩。

Qǐng dài hǎo kǒuzhào.

Please wear your mask properly.

Tips

usage

罩 is commonly seen in compound nouns: 口罩 (mask), 灯罩 (lampshade), 面罩 (face mask), 罩衫 (smock). It can also be a verb meaning 'to cover'.

Components

radical

罒 wǎng

net (radical form of 网)

Top net radical 罒, the horizontal-form of 网. Anchors 罩 in the covering/trapping family alongside 罗 (catch in a net), 罚 (punish), 置 (set in place). The net image is exactly right - a 罩 is a cover dropped over something, originally a fishing net or bird trap.

phonetic

卓 zhuó

outstanding; tall

Bottom 卓 supplies the sound (zhuó → zhào, a labial-shift but the rounded vowel survives). 卓 itself means 'tall, prominent' and faintly hints that the cover sits high over what it shrouds. Same phonetic in 桌 (zhuō, table) - a piece of wood standing prominently.