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March 24, 2026
咖kā(ka1)
The character 咖 (kā) primarily refers to 'coffee' in Mandarin. It is often used in contexts related to beverages and is also seen in words that pertain to grading or classification. Additionally, it plays a role in transliterations of foreign terms, especially in culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#15186DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Coffee culture in China has grown significantly in recent years, with coffee shops becoming popular social spots in urban areas. The use of 咖 in '咖啡' symbolizes the blending of Western coffee traditions with Chinese tea culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a barista at a coffee shop asking, "Can I get you a cup of kā-fee?" The character 咖 has a mouth (口) on the left, suggesting communication about this flavorful drink. Visualize the barista serving coffee to a customer as a vivid scene to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 咖
kā(ka1)
1coffee
2class
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 咖
咖Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15186Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 咖
Podcast: 咖
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AI Study Notes for 咖
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a barista at a coffee shop asking, "Can I get you a cup of kā-fee?" The character 咖 has a mouth (口) on the left, suggesting communication about this flavorful drink. Visualize the barista serving coffee to a customer as a vivid scene to remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
When using 咖, be aware that it is commonly paired with other characters like '啡' to form '咖啡' (kāfēi), meaning coffee. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. This character is informal and is primarily used in everyday speech.
HSK Study Tips
Although 咖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to food and drink, such as 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Students should focus on recognizing it in compound words and in the context of dining and social interactions.
Cultural Note
Coffee culture in China has grown significantly in recent years, with coffee shops becoming popular social spots in urban areas. The use of 咖 in '咖啡' symbolizes the blending of Western coffee traditions with Chinese tea culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 咖 as 佳 (jiā), which means 'good' or 'fine.' Remember that the left side of 咖 is 口, not the component for 'good.' Additionally, some learners may forget to pair it correctly with 啡 when referring to coffee.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咖
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Grammar Patterns of 咖
咖 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
bāo kuò kā fēi、 、 fú wù fèi jí zēng zhí shuì zài， nèi ， yī dùn wǔ dào cài zhèng cān de jià30 gé wéi。
A five-course meal including coffee, service and VAT is £
3
他喝了杯咖啡，回来后开始认真听讲。
tā hē le bēi kā fēi， ， huí lái hòu kāi shǐ rèn zhēn tīng。
He got his coffee, came back and settled down to listen.
4
有最低消费是4英镑的两道菜加咖啡的套餐。
yǒu zuì dī xiāo fèi shì4 4 yīng bàng de liǎng dào cài jiā kā fēi de tào。
There is a set menu from £00 for two courses with coffee.
5
“我们找个地方喝杯咖啡吧。”——“我知道个好地方。”
“ “ wǒ mén zhǎo gè dì fāng hē bēi kā fēi。”——“ bā 。”——“ wǒ zhī dào gè hǎo。”
"Let's get a coffee somewhere."—"I know just the place."
6
然后那些咖啡豆被磨碎，包装好作为咖啡粉出售。
rán hòu nà xiē kā fēi dòu bèi mó suì， ， bāo zhuāng hǎo zuò wéi kā fēi fěn chū。
The beans are then ground and packaged for sale as ground coffee.
7
她滤煮好咖啡，然后把羊角面包放进烤箱加热。
tā lǜ zhǔ hǎo kā fēi， ， rán hòu bǎ yáng jiǎo miàn bāo fàng jìn kǎo xiāng jiā。
She percolated the coffee and put croissants in the oven to warm.
8
我给大家冲杯咖啡好吗？
wǒ gěi dà jiā chōng bēi kā fēi hǎo ma？
Would you like me to make us all a coffee?
9
你再来一点咖喱烧菜好吗？
nǐ zài lái yī diǎn kā lí shāo cài hǎo ma？
Would you like some more curry?
10
请给我磨一磅咖啡好 吗 ?
qǐng gěi wǒ mó yī bàng kā fēi hǎo?
Would you please grind a pound of coffee for me?
Cultural Notes for 咖
🏮Cultural insight
Coffee culture in China has grown significantly in recent years, with coffee shops becoming popular social spots in urban areas. The use of 咖 in '咖啡' symbolizes the blending of Western coffee traditions with Chinese tea culture.
Word Family of 咖
Words Containing This Character13
咖啡kāfēicoffee (loanword)
咖kācoffee
咖啡店café
咖喱curry (loanword)
咖啡因caffeine (loanword)
咖啡馆café咖啡館
咖啡厅coffee shop咖啡廳
咖啡色brown
咖啡豆coffee beans
咖啡壶coffee pot咖啡壺
咖哩curry (loanword)
咖啡屋café
咖喱粉curry powder
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 咖啡 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 咖
Primarily, yes, but it can also appear in transliterations and related terms.
It is pronounced as 'kā' with a high, level tone.
It is generally informal; for formal contexts, other terms might be preferred.
