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.
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.
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
Origin
呷 = 口 + 甲. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 呷
Parts
Which of these is part of 呷?
How to say to swallow, to suck, to drink in Chinese
“to swallow, to suck, to drink” in Chinese is呷
The character 呷 (gā) means 'to swallow', 'to suck', or 'to drink'. It is often used in informal contexts, particularly when referring to the action of drinking or consuming something quickly or noisily, such as slurping a drink.
When to use 呷
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).
呷 or something close to it
呷 (gā) vs 喝 (hē) — use 呷 for informal or noisy drinking, while 喝 is more general for drinking.
What learners get wrong
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.
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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
嘉莉在____着咖啡, 头也没抬.
Carrie was sipping coffee, and did not look up.
Example sentences for 呷 (1)
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Word Family of 呷
Frequently asked questions about 呷
No, 呷 is primarily used in informal contexts, so it's best avoided in formal writing.
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