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笳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笳jiāreed whistleg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #84544, Very Hard
笳jiāwhistle made of reedunknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #84544, Very Hard
jiā(jia1) T1
  1. 1reed whistle
  2. 2whistle made of reed
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March 24, 2026

笳jiā(jia1)

The character 笳 (jiā) refers to a type of musical instrument, specifically a reed whistle. It is often used in traditional Chinese music and is characterized by its unique sound, which is produced by blowing air through a reed. This instrument holds a special place in folk music contexts.

Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#84544DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The 笳 is tied to Chinese folk traditions and is often used in celebrations and festivals, reflecting the cultural importance of music in community gatherings. It is especially prominent in rural areas where traditional music is preserved.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'jiā' (笳) as a joyful party with music. Picture a group of people playing reed whistles made from tall reeds by a riverbank. The shape of the character resembles a whistle, with the '竹' radical representing bamboo, which is often used to make these instruments.

Meanings of 笳

jiā(jia1)
1reed whistle
2whistle made of reed
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 笳 means.

About 笳

笳Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笳

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Podcast: 笳

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AI Study Notes for 笳

Usage Notes

When using 笳, be aware that it is a more formal term, often found in literary or musical contexts. Avoid confusing it with other related instruments, like 笛 (dí), which refers to a flute. It is less commonly used in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Though 笳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students at HSK Level 3 and above can benefit from exploring musical terms as they expand their cultural understanding. Focus on pronunciation and the tonal aspect, as it is a first tone, which can be tricky for learners.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 笳 with similar-sounding words or characters; for instance, mistakenly using 笛 (dí) when referring to a reed whistle. Remember, 笳 specifically denotes a reed whistle, while 笛 denotes a flute.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笳

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Etymology of 笳

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)加
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

笳 = ⺮ + 加. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 笳

IDS Structure⿱⺮加
笳Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
加Jia1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 笳?

How to say reed whistle in Chinese

“reed whistle” in Chinese is笳jiā

The character 笳 (jiā) refers to a type of musical instrument, specifically a reed whistle. It is often used in traditional Chinese music and is characterized by its unique sound, which is produced by blowing air through a reed. This instrument holds a special place in folk music contexts.

When to use 笳

When using 笳, be aware that it is a more formal term, often found in literary or musical contexts. Avoid confusing it with other related instruments, like 笛 (dí), which refers to a flute. It is less commonly used in everyday conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 笳 with similar-sounding words or characters; for instance, mistakenly using 笛 (dí) when referring to a reed whistle. Remember, 笳 specifically denotes a reed whistle, while 笛 denotes a flute.

Write 笳

笳

Practice writing 笳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 笳

Words Containing This Character1
笳jiāwhistle made of reed

Frequently Asked Questions about 笳

It is pronounced as 'jiā', with a high-level tone.

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