“Che” In Traditional Chinese Characters |

This is the continuation of my series "What a Character!" where I introduce Traditional Chinese characters in alphabetical order according to Pinyin spelling. There are five characters pronounced "che” according to the official list of the 3000 most common Traditional Chinese characters:

車 “vehicle.” (First tone) This character is no.49 on the frequency list I am using. It originates from a pictograph of a horse-drawn carriage from a top-down view. According to dictionaries, it can be used to represent wealth and status. It can stand alone or be used as a radical and is pronounced “Ju(1)” on a Chinese chess board and some other compound terms.

扯 “pull”, “tear”, “chat.” (Third tone) It is made up of the “hand” radical and the component for “stop.” The seven-stroke character is the same in simplified Chinese.

徹 “all through”, “thorough”, “penetrating” (4th tone) includes tge “walking step” radical, the component for “educate” and “pu(1)” meaning to “wrap/ tap.” Interestingly, the simplified omits the “month” radical and also replaced “pu(1)” with “dau(1)” (knife) making it completely different.

撤 “remove”, “draw back”, “retreat” (4th tone) features a “hand” radical.
It “ch(4)tui(4)” might be used in a military maneuver of retreat. “Che(4)xiao(1)” you might hear in a business setting to cancel contracts. Simplified is basically the same.

澈 “clear” in a physical or abstract sense. (4th tone). The “water” radical is on the left. At 2626 on the frequency list, we are getting to upper limits of what is considered common expression. Simplified, it is nearly the same.

Throughout the video I insert clips of a hike to the summit of Hehuan North Peak in Taiwan. You can enjoy nearly 360 degree panoramic views at the summit.

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