Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 插

old variant of 插 (chā)

to insert
stick in
pierce
to take part in
to interfere
to interpose

jack
socket

interpolation (math.)

to install (hardware) internally (rather than plugging it in as a peripheral)
(math.) to interpolate
interpolation

flower arranging
ikebana

interpolation (math.)

to interrupt (sb talking)
to butt in
to cut into a conversation

to plug into
to insert
to stick in

power strip

socket
outlet

illustration

illustration

to poke in the eye
(gaming) to place a ward (i.e. vision-granting item)
to keep tabs on (an online discussion etc); to monitor (for updates)

to interrupt (sb speaking)
interruption
digression

to slide in and out
thrusting

to transplant rice seedlings

to insert
to stick in
to plug in (an electronic device)

bolt (for locking a window, cabinet etc)
(electrical) plug

to join a class partway through the course

to cut in line
to jump a queue
to live on a rural community (during the Cultural Revolution)

power strip

to interrupt (a radio or TV program) with a commercial insert, breaking news etc
to put a call on hold

to insert; to stick in; to plug in

to replug
to disconnect and reconnect (from a plug, port, connection etc)

(medicine) to intubate
intubation
(endotracheal) tube

mortise lock

slot

to shove in
to edge in
fig. to poke one's nose into people's business
prong

to extrapolate
extrapolation (math.)
(computing) to plug in (a peripheral device etc)

variant of 叉腰 (chāyāo)

(coll.) to intubate

plug

to squeeze in
to step in
to take part
to step between (two persons in a relationship)

to get involved in
to meddle
interference

to place in a certain position
to assign to a job
to plant
resettlement (old)

plug-in (software or hardware)
to plug in a component

music played during a movie, play etc
incidental music
music played in a theatrical interlude
(fig.) incident
episode

to insert
to take turns, alternate
to interweave
to interlace
subplot
interlude
episode
(military) to thrust deep into the enemy forces

socket (for an electric plug)
to interrupt (sb speaking)
to butt in

power strip

unplugged (of rock musicians performing on acoustic instruments)

episode
brief interlude

hot swapping

power strip
powerboard (with multiple electrical sockets)

(of a device, e.g. public telephone, ticket inspection machine) designed to have a card or ticket inserted

interjection

to marry and live with the bride's family (inverting traditional Chinese expectations)

suíchājíyòng

plug and play (computing)

diànyuánchāzuò

electric socket
power point

chābōguǎnggào

slot advertisement
interstitial ad
splash ad

(genetics) insertion element

chābushàngshǒu

to be unable to intervene

crowded tightly
jam-packed

wúxīnchāliǔ

(idiom) (of a good outcome) unanticipated
serendipitous
fortuitous

liǎnglèichādāo

lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom)
fig. to attach a great importance to friendship, up to the point of being able to sacrifice oneself for it

jíchājíyòng

plug-and-play

chāchìnánfēi

lit. even given wings, you couldn't fly (idiom); fig. impossible to escape

to include impromptu comic material in opera performance (idiom); to jest
buffoonery

jiànfèngchāzhēn

lit. to see a gap and stick in a needle (idiom); fig. to make use of every second and every inch

qìguǎnchāguǎnshù

气管插管术

[氣管插管術]

endotracheal intubation (medicine)

wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn

无心插柳柳成阴

[無心插柳柳成陰]

lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you
(fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success
also written 無心插柳柳成蔭／无心插柳柳成荫

xiānhuāchāzàiniúfènshàng

鲜花插在牛粪上

[鮮花插在牛糞上]

lit. a bunch of flowers poked into a pile of manure
fig. a terrible shame (as when a lovely woman marries an odious man)

yǒuyìzāihuāhuābùfā,wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn

有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴

[有意栽花花不發，無心插柳柳成陰]

lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree
fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect
well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it