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垲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
垲kǎia high and dry placex, 9 strokes, radical 土
垲kǎidry terrainunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土
kǎi(kai3) T3
  1. 1a high and dry place
  2. 2dry terrain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

垲(塏)kǎi(kai3)

The character 垲 (kǎi) refers to a high and dry place or dry terrain, often used to describe elevated areas that are arid or lack moisture. It can imply a sense of barrenness or desolation, commonly found in geographical contexts.

Strokes9Radical土
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of dry terrain is significant in discussions about agriculture and land use, especially in regions where water scarcity is a concern. Understanding such terms can provide insights into traditional farming practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a kite (sounds like 'kǎi') soaring high over a dry desert landscape. The character 垲 has the radical 土 (earth) at the bottom, indicating land or terrain, while the top part resembles a roof, suggesting an elevated space.

Meanings of 垲

kǎi(kai3)
1a high and dry place
2dry terrain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 垲

垲Simplified
塏Traditional
9Strokes
土Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 垲

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Podcast: 垲

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 垲

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 垲, ensuring to use the third tone (kǎi). It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's more relevant in literary or geographical discussions. Mistakes often arise from confusing it with similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 垲 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with level 3 words related to nature and landscape, such as 山 (shān, mountain) or 水 (shuǐ, water). Focus on recognizing its components and usage in context to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is mispronouncing the tone, saying 'kai' instead of 'kǎi'. Additionally, learners may confuse 垲 with 干 (gān), which means 'dry' but in a different context, such as 'to do' or 'dry' in a more general sense.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垲

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Etymology of 垲

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)岂
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 垲

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half岂 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 垲? 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 垲?

Decomposition of 垲

IDS Structure⿰土岂
垲Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
岂kai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 垲?

How to say a high and dry place in Chinese

“a high and dry place” in Chinese is垲kǎi

The character 垲 (kǎi) refers to a high and dry place or dry terrain, often used to describe elevated areas that are arid or lack moisture. It can imply a sense of barrenness or desolation, commonly found in geographical contexts.

When to use 垲

Learners should be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 垲, ensuring to use the third tone (kǎi). It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's more relevant in literary or geographical discussions. Mistakes often arise from confusing it with similar-sounding characters.

What learners get wrong

One common mistake is mispronouncing the tone, saying 'kai' instead of 'kǎi'. Additionally, learners may confuse 垲 with 干 (gān), which means 'dry' but in a different context, such as 'to do' or 'dry' in a more general sense.

Write 垲

垲

Practice writing 垲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 垲

Words Containing This Character1
垲kǎidry terrain塏
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 垲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 垲

Make sure to use the third tone, pronounced as 'kǎi'.

Jason Recommends

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Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.