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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#13211DifficultyHard
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
1used in transliterations
2(used as phonetic "ka")
Exercise 1 of 2
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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
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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。
jiǎo jiàn de zì háng chē shǒu mén fēn fēn qí chē chōng chū qǐ pǎo mén， ， tū rán sū gé lán xuǎn shǒu de zuǒ jiǎo kǎ tà yī shēng cǎi kōng le tà， bǎn ， guān zhòng bù jīn dǎo chōu le yī kǒu。
As the gladiators rolled away from the starting gates, a gasp went up when the Scottish cyclist's left foot clicked out of the pedal.
Cultural Notes for 咔
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 咔
Words Containing This Character4
咔kā(used as phonetic "ka")
咔嚓stop it
咔叽khaki (loanword)咔嘰
咔嗒clatter
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 咔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 咔
咔 does not have a specific meaning and is primarily used as a phonetic sound in transliterations.
No, 咔 is typically used in informal contexts, such as comics or casual conversations.
