Meanings of 呷
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About 呷
Podcast: 呷
Podcast: 呷
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AI Study Notes for 呷
呷 (gā) vs 喝 (hē) — use 呷 for informal or noisy drinking, while 喝 is more general for drinking.
Imagine a person drinking from a large bowl with a loud, exaggerated noise, making the sound 'gā' as they gulp it down. The character 呷 resembles a cup (口) next to a mouth (牙), emphasizing drinking.
This character is typically used in casual conversation and may not be appropriate in formal contexts. Be cautious about its informal tone, especially in written communication. Common collocations include '呷水' (to drink water) and '呷茶' (to drink tea).
While 呷 is not an HSK word, it can be related to other verbs of consumption like 喝 (hē, to drink) and 吃 (chī, to eat) at HSK level 1. Students should focus on recognizing its informal context to better understand conversational Mandarin.
In Chinese culture, drinking tea is a significant social activity, and the sound of sipping or slurping is often seen as a sign of enjoyment, making 呷 especially relevant in discussions about tea culture.
Learners often confuse 呷 with 喝 (hē), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我呷水' (Wǒ gā shuǐ) instead of '我喝水' (Wǒ hē shuǐ) is incorrect; use 呷 for informal contexts only.
Pronunciation of 呷
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Etymology of 呷
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 甲 represents the sound.
mouth
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 呷
Identify the Components
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Write 呷
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Practice writing 呷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 呷
呷 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
嘉莉在____着咖啡, 头也没抬.
Carrie was sipping coffee, and did not look up.
Example Sentences for 呷 (1)
Cultural Notes for 呷
In Chinese culture, drinking tea is a significant social activity, and the sound of sipping or slurping is often seen as a sign of enjoyment, making 呷 especially relevant in discussions about tea culture.
Word Family of 呷
Compound Meaning
What does 呷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呷
No, 呷 is primarily used in informal contexts, so it's best avoided in formal writing.