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軻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
軻kēaxlex, 12 strokes, radical 車
kē(ke1) T1
  1. 1axle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

軻kē(ke1)

The character 軻 (kē) refers to an axle, which is a crucial component in vehicles that allows wheels to rotate. It is commonly used in contexts related to transportation, machinery, and engineering, highlighting its significance in mechanics and stability.

Strokes12Radical車
Cultural Note

In ancient China, ox-drawn carts were common, and the axle was a vital part of these vehicles, highlighting its importance in agricultural and trade practices. Understanding this character can provide insights into traditional Chinese transportation methods.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant car with a huge axle that holds the wheels together, making it possible for the car to move. The character 軻 resembles a large wheel (the top part) with a sturdy support (the bottom part), emphasizing its role in mobility and support.

Meanings of 軻

kē(ke1)
1axle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 軻

軻Simplified
12Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 軻

JasonAmy

Podcast: 軻

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 軻

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing this character with similar-looking ones or using it in informal contexts where a simpler term would suffice. It's primarily used in technical or formal settings, especially in engineering discussions about vehicles.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding 軻 can help students connect with other mechanical terms. Focus on related words in the transportation field to build a more comprehensive vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 軻 with other characters that have similar components, leading to mispronunciation or incorrect context. For example, using 軻 when referring to a wheel (轮, lún) is incorrect; it specifically denotes the axle.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 軻

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Etymology of 軻

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

wheel

Semantic (meaning)車
+
Phonetic (sound)可
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 軻

  1. 1The meaning half車 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half可 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywheel
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 軻? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 軻?

Decomposition of 軻

IDS Structure⿰車可
軻Full Character
=
車che1
left
可ke3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 軻?

How to say axle in Chinese

“axle” in Chinese is軻kē

The character 軻 (kē) refers to an axle, which is a crucial component in vehicles that allows wheels to rotate. It is commonly used in contexts related to transportation, machinery, and engineering, highlighting its significance in mechanics and stability.

When to use 軻

Common mistakes include confusing this character with similar-looking ones or using it in informal contexts where a simpler term would suffice. It's primarily used in technical or formal settings, especially in engineering discussions about vehicles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 軻 with other characters that have similar components, leading to mispronunciation or incorrect context. For example, using 軻 when referring to a wheel (轮, lún) is incorrect; it specifically denotes the axle.

Write 軻

軻

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 軻

Words Containing This Character3
荆轲Jing Ke (-227 BC), celebrated in verse and fiction as would-be assassin of King Ying Zheng of Qin 秦嬴政 (later the First Emperor 秦始皇)荊軻
轲kēgiven name of Mencius軻
孟轲Mencius 孟子 (c. 372-c. 289), Confucian philosopher孟軻
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 荆轲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 軻

It is primarily used to refer to an axle in vehicles and machinery.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 軻?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.