‘夹子’ (jiā zi) is a common noun meaning ‘clip’ or ‘clothespin’—a small, spring-loaded device used to hold objects together temporarily. The first character 夹 (jiā) means ‘to clamp’, ‘to grip’, or ‘to hold between two surfaces’, and the second character 子 (zi) is a diminutive noun suffix often used to form concrete, everyday objects (e.g., 桌子 zhuōzi ‘table’, 筷子 kuàizi ‘chopsticks’). Together, they literally convey ‘a small gripping thing’.

This word applies broadly: it can refer to simple wooden or plastic clothespins for hanging laundry, metal binder clips for papers, or even hair clips—though context usually clarifies the type. It’s neutral in register, widely understood across dialects, and frequently appears in household, office, and classroom settings. Unlike more technical terms like 回形针 (huíxíngzhēn ‘paper clip’) or 发卡 (fàkǎ ‘hair clip’), 夹子 is a general, colloquial term emphasizing function over form.