指甲
zhǐjia/ʈ͡ʂɻ̩²¹⁴ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä⁴/
In Chinese, the English word 'nail' is 指甲 (zhǐjia).
Meaning: spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 指 (finger) and 甲 (shell/armor/nail).
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'nail' can mean both a fingernail and a metal spike, Chinese uses 指甲 (zhǐjia) for the body part and 钉子 (dīngzi) for the metal fastener.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is zhǐjia.
Did you know?
- The character 甲 (jiǎ) also serves as the first celestial stem in the traditional Chinese sexagenary calendar, representing the first position in a 60-year cycle.
- In Chinese culture, the length and shape of the 指甲 (zhǐjia) were historically seen as indicators of social class, as long nails showed a person did not perform manual labor.
- The traditional practice of 'nail-cutting' in some Chinese beliefs suggests that the time of day you trim your 指甲 (zhǐjia) can affect your luck or health.
Examples in context
- 我的指甲断了。I broke a nail.This sentence is useful for describing a broken nail using 指甲.Tatoeba #1319931 by shanghainese, translation #1318534 by CM
- 请拿一些钉子过来。Please bring some nails.
- 用钉子把木板固定好。Secure the wooden board with nails.
Example conversation
Two people are fixing a wooden shelf together.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen俊杰，这里需要一个指甲。jùnjié, zhèlǐ xūyào yīgè zhǐjiaJunjie, we need a nail here.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，我这就去找。hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù qù zhǎoOkay, I will go look for one now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen记得找个短一点的指甲。jìde zhǎo gè duǎn yīdiǎn de zhǐjiaRemember to find a shorter nail.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，晓雯。méi wèntí, xiǎowénNo problem, Xiaowen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 指甲, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
