衩 (chà): slit on the side of a robe or s…

Meanings

旗袍两边的开衩很高。

Qípáo liǎng biān de kāichà hěn gāo.

The two side slits of the cheongsam are very high.

这条裙子侧面开了衩，走路方便。

Zhè tiáo qúnzi cèmiàn kāi le chà, zǒulù fāngbiàn.

This skirt has a slit at the side, making it easy to walk in.

usage

The chà reading means the open slit on the side of a robe or skirt, as in 开衩. The chǎ reading instead means underpants.

radical

衤 yī

clothing

The clothing radical, a left-side form of 衣. It marks this as a garment word, here a kind of short undergarment.

phonetic

叉 chā

fork; cross

Supplies the sound, drifting from 叉 to chǎ. Its forked shape also faintly suits a garment that splits or opens at the leg.

衩 chà