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March 24, 2026
嗑kē(ke1)
The character 嗑 (kē) primarily means to eat seeds, particularly sunflower seeds, which is a common snack in China. It can also refer to the action of cracking seeds between teeth or engaging in idle chatter. This word conveys a sense of casualness and is often used in informal contexts.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#4247DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, eating sunflower seeds (嗑瓜子) is a popular social activity, especially during gatherings or while watching TV. This practice often symbolizes relaxation and casual conversation among friends and family.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person sitting on a bench, cracking open sunflower seeds (嗑) while chatting with friends. The sound of the seeds cracking reminds you of the pronunciation 'kē'. Visualize the seeds spilling everywhere, representing the loquaciousness associated with this action.
Meanings of 嗑
kē(ke1)
primary
1to eat seeds; to reproach; loquacious
2to crack (seeds) between one's teeth
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About 嗑
嗑Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗑
Podcast: 嗑
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AI Study Notes for 嗑
Quick Contrast
嗑 (kē) vs 吃 (chī) — use 嗑 when referring specifically to cracking seeds or casual snacking rather than general eating.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person sitting on a bench, cracking open sunflower seeds (嗑) while chatting with friends. The sound of the seeds cracking reminds you of the pronunciation 'kē'. Visualize the seeds spilling everywhere, representing the loquaciousness associated with this action.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 嗑 is often used in informal settings, so it may not be suitable for formal conversations. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; focus on the context to understand its casual usage. The phrase '嗑瓜子' (kē guā zǐ) specifically means to eat sunflower seeds.
HSK Study Tips
While 嗑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it's useful for learners at an intermediate level who are familiar with food-related vocabulary. Connecting it to other food-related words can help reinforce memory. Focus on pronunciation and context for proper usage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, eating sunflower seeds (嗑瓜子) is a popular social activity, especially during gatherings or while watching TV. This practice often symbolizes relaxation and casual conversation among friends and family.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗑 with other similar characters like 喝 (hē, to drink) or 咳 (ké, to cough). For example, saying '我在喝瓜子' instead of '我在嗑瓜子' is incorrect; it should be '我在嗑瓜子' (Wǒ zài kē guā zǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗑
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Cultural Notes for 嗑
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, eating sunflower seeds (嗑瓜子) is a popular social activity, especially during gatherings or while watching TV. This practice often symbolizes relaxation and casual conversation among friends and family.
Word Family of 嗑
Words Containing This Character2
嗑kēto crack (seeds) between one's teeth
唠嗑to gossip嘮嗑
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 嗑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗑
You can say, '我们边嗑瓜子边聊天' (Wǒmen biān kē guā zǐ biān liáotiān), meaning 'We chat while eating sunflower seeds.'
No, 嗑 is considered informal and is typically used in casual conversations.
Besides 'to eat seeds', 嗑 can also mean 'to reproach' or 'to chatter', especially in a light-hearted context.
