unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13211, Very Hard
咔
kǎ
used in transliterations
zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13211, Very Hard
咔
kā
(used as phonetic "ka")
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13211, Very Hard
咔
kā
used in transliterations
zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13211, Very Hard
kā(ka1)
primary
T1
1(used as phonetic "ka")
2used in transliterations
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咔kā(ka1)
The character 咔 (kā) is primarily used as a phonetic marker in transliterations, representing the sound 'ka.' It is often found in onomatopoeic expressions or words that mimic sounds, such as in comic books or informal texts. While it does not have a standalone meaning, it plays a role in creating expressive language.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#13211DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese pop culture, 咔 is frequently used in comic strips or graphic novels to represent sound effects, reflecting the vibrant and expressive nature of contemporary storytelling in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a camera clicking 'ka' as it captures a moment. The character 咔 looks like a mouth (口) making a sharp sound, which reinforces the idea of a quick, sharp noise like a 'ka.' This connection helps remember its sound and usage.
Meanings of 咔
kā(ka1)
primary
1(used as phonetic "ka")
2used in transliterations
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 咔 means.
About 咔
咔Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咔
Podcast: 咔
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AI Study Notes for 咔
Usage Notes
Since 咔 is mainly used in informal contexts, it is less common in formal writing. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters and be aware that it is often paired with other characters to create sound effects. It's important to use it in appropriate contexts to avoid sounding childish.
HSK Study Tips
Though 咔 is not included in the HSK levels, students should recognize it as a part of sound-related vocabulary. Connecting it with other onomatopoeic words can enhance understanding of informal expressions and sound mimicry in Mandarin.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 咔 with similar-sounding characters like 卡 (kǎ), which means 'card' or 'to stop.' It's essential to remember that 咔 is used for sound effects and transliteration, not as a standalone word.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咔
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Etymology of 咔
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 卡 represents the sound.
咔 = 口 + 卡. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咔
IDS Structure⿰口卡
咔Full Character
=
口kou3
left
卡ka3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 咔?
How to say (used as phonetic "ka") in Chinese
“(used as phonetic "ka")” in Chinese is咔kǎ
The character 咔 (kā) is primarily used as a phonetic marker in transliterations, representing the sound 'ka.' It is often found in onomatopoeic expressions or words that mimic sounds, such as in comic books or informal texts. While it does not have a standalone meaning, it plays a role in creating expressive language.
When to use 咔
Since 咔 is mainly used in informal contexts, it is less common in formal writing. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters and be aware that it is often paired with other characters to create sound effects. It's important to use it in appropriate contexts to avoid sounding childish.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 咔 with similar-sounding characters like 卡 (kǎ), which means 'card' or 'to stop.' It's essential to remember that 咔 is used for sound effects and transliteration, not as a standalone word.
Write 咔
咔
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Practice writing 咔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 咔
咔 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙齿还____咔直响。
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle.
Example Sentences for 咔 (4)
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1
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙齿还咔咔直响。
tā měng dì zhāo wǒ de jiǎo bó zǐ yǎo xià qù， ， yá chǐ huán kǎ kǎ zhí。
