zhì

Zhé is a Mandarin pinyin syllable that can represent several Chinese morphemes, most commonly the character 折 (zhé, second tone). In Chinese, 折 carries a core sense related to bending, folding, or breaking, and it appears in a wide range of compounds and phrases.

Common meanings and uses

- As a verb, 折 means to fold, bend, or break something, or to cause a reversal or setback in a process.

- In numerical or commercial contexts, 折 is used in phrases that denote reduction or discount, such as 折扣 (zhékòu, discount).

Representative phrases and terms

- 折扣 zhékòu

- 折射 zhéshè

- 折磨 zhémó

- 折中 zhézhōng

- 折返 zhéfǎn

- 折扇 zhéfàn

- 折断 zhéduàn

- 折纸 zhézhǐ

- 折线 zhéxiàn

Notes

- The same pinyin zhé can correspond to multiple characters beyond 折, and tones distinguish meanings in context. For example, 折熬、折衷等 may exist with different characters and pronunciations.

- In Mandarin dictionaries, zhé is primarily encountered as the reading for 折, but readers should verify from a reliable source when encountering unfamiliar compounds, since Chinese characters may share pinyin with different tones and meanings.

Overall, zhé as a pinyin syllable is most closely associated with folding, breaking, and related notions, and it features prominently in everyday vocabulary and technical terms alike.