unknown, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #9578, Very Hard
嘎
gā
a cackling sound; bad, malevolent
o, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #9578, Very Hard
嘎
gā
cackling sound
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #9578, Very Hard
gā(ga1)
primary
T1
1a cackling sound; bad, malevolent
2cackling sound
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
嘎gā(ga1)
The character 嘎 (gā) primarily represents a cackling sound, similar to the noise made by certain birds or animals. It can also imply something bad or malevolent, often used in contexts to describe unpleasant situations or behaviors. This character is commonly encountered in informal speech and expressions related to laughter or mockery.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#9578DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The sound represented by 嘎 is often associated with certain animals in Chinese culture, like ducks or geese, which are common in traditional rural life. This connection highlights the importance of nature and animal sounds in everyday Chinese expression.
Memory Tip
Imagine a duck cackling 'gā' while waddling around a garden. The character 嘎 looks like a duck's beak (口) with a little twist (可), representing the sound it makes. Picture the duck making a bad choice in the garden, which connects to the negative connotation of 'bad' or 'malevolent' in its meaning.
Meanings of 嘎
gā(ga1)
primary
1a cackling sound; bad, malevolent
2cackling sound
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嘎
嘎Simplified
14Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘎
Podcast: 嘎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 嘎
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 嘎 with similar-sounding characters like 卡 (kǎ) or 蛤 (há), which have different meanings. It's primarily used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Often appears in phrases describing laughter or mockery, and learners should practice the pronunciation to avoid tone errors.
HSK Study Tips
While 嘎 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to words that express sounds or emotions, such as 哭 (kū, to cry) or 笑 (xiào, to laugh). Students should practice its pronunciation and recognize its informal contexts to enhance their speaking skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘎 with more commonly used characters like 呵 (hē) or 啊 (a), which can lead to incorrect usage in sentences. For instance, saying '我嘎了' (Wǒ gā le) instead of '我笑了' (Wǒ xiào le) to mean 'I laughed' is incorrect; the former does not convey the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘎
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 嘎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half戛 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 嘎? 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 嘎?
Decomposition of 嘎
IDS Structure⿰口戛
嘎Full Character
=
口kou3
left
戛jia2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 嘎?
How to say a cackling sound; bad, malevolent in Chinese
“a cackling sound; bad, malevolent” in Chinese is嘎gá
The character 嘎 (gā) primarily represents a cackling sound, similar to the noise made by certain birds or animals. It can also imply something bad or malevolent, often used in contexts to describe unpleasant situations or behaviors. This character is commonly encountered in informal speech and expressions related to laughter or mockery.
When to use 嘎
Common mistakes include confusing 嘎 with similar-sounding characters like 卡 (kǎ) or 蛤 (há), which have different meanings. It's primarily used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Often appears in phrases describing laughter or mockery, and learners should practice the pronunciation to avoid tone errors.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嘎 with more commonly used characters like 呵 (hē) or 啊 (a), which can lead to incorrect usage in sentences. For instance, saying '我嘎了' (Wǒ gā le) instead of '我笑了' (Wǒ xiào le) to mean 'I laughed' is incorrect; the former does not convey the intended meaning.
Write 嘎
嘎
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 嘎 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 嘎
嘎 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我签到后____吱嘎吱走过石子路来到我的房间。
I signed in and crunched across the gravel to my room.
Example Sentences for 嘎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我签到后嘎吱嘎吱走过石子路来到我的房间。
wǒ qiān dào hòu gā zhī gā zhī zǒu guò shí zǐ lù lái dào wǒ de fáng jiān。
I signed in and crunched across the gravel to my room.
2
电梯嘎吱一声停在了一层。
diàn tī gā zhī yī shēng tíng zài le yī céng。
The elevator creaked to a halt at the ground floor.
3
一辆黑色的梅赛德斯轿车在直升机旁嘎的一声刹住了。
yī liàng hēi sè de méi sài dé sī jiào chē zài zhí shēng jī páng gā de yī shēng chà zhù le。
A black Mercedes screeched to a halt beside the helicopter.
4
地板上的沙子在我们脚下嘎吱作响。
dì bǎn shàng de shā zǐ zài wǒ mén jiǎo xià gā zhī zuò xiǎng。
