chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious
x, 11 strokes, radical 土, Very Hard
è(e4) T4
1chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious
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March 24, 2026
堊è(e4)
The character 堊 (è) primarily refers to chalk, a soft white limestone used for writing or marking. It can also convey the idea of something being holy or sacred, reflecting a sense of wisdom or sagacity. This character is less common in daily use but may appear in literary or formal contexts.
Strokes11Radical土Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, chalk is often associated with teaching and scholarship, emphasizing the value placed on education and wisdom. The use of chalkboards in classrooms signifies a space of learning and knowledge dissemination.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise sage (the meaning of 'sacred' or 'sagacious') standing on a chalkboard, where he writes profound teachings with chalk (堊). The character has a '土' (earth) radical, suggesting its earthiness, as chalk comes from the earth.
Meanings of 堊
è(e4)
1chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 堊
堊Simplified
11Strokes
土Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 堊
Podcast: 堊
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AI Study Notes for 堊
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise sage (the meaning of 'sacred' or 'sagacious') standing on a chalkboard, where he writes profound teachings with chalk (堊). The character has a '土' (earth) radical, suggesting its earthiness, as chalk comes from the earth.
Usage Notes
堊 is often used in formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with the more common characters for chalk (like 粉笔). Remember to use the correct tone (è) to avoid misinterpretation.
HSK Study Tips
This character is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects with HSK vocabulary related to education and learning, such as 教 (to teach) and 学 (to learn). Focus on the context of chalk in educational settings when studying.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, chalk is often associated with teaching and scholarship, emphasizing the value placed on education and wisdom. The use of chalkboards in classrooms signifies a space of learning and knowledge dissemination.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 堊 by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'ya' instead of 'è.' Additionally, some may confuse it with similar characters like 土, which has a different meaning related to earth.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 堊
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Cultural Notes for 堊
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, chalk is often associated with teaching and scholarship, emphasizing the value placed on education and wisdom. The use of chalkboards in classrooms signifies a space of learning and knowledge dissemination.
Word Family of 堊
Words Containing This Character3
白垩纪Cretaceous (geological period 140-65m years ago)白堊紀
白垩chalk白堊
垩èto whitewash堊
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 白垩纪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 堊
You can say '他用堊在黑板上写字,' meaning 'He wrote on the blackboard with chalk.'
No, 堊 is more of a literary term and not frequently used in everyday conversation.
