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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 咔
咔Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咔
Podcast: 咔
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 卡 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half卡 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 咔? 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 咔?
Decomposition of 咔
IDS Structure⿰口卡
咔Full Character
=
口kou3
left
卡ka3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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。
