Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
恪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恪kèrespectful, reverentv, 9 strokes, radical 忄
恪kèscrupulousunknown, 9 strokes, radical 忄
恪kèsurname Keunknown, 9 strokes, radical 忄
kè(Ke4)ke T4
  1. 1respectful, reverent
  2. 2scrupulous
Also a Chinese surname, Ke — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

恪kè(Ke4)

The character 恪 (kè) conveys a sense of respect and reverence, often used in contexts emphasizing scrupulous behavior or adherence to moral principles. It can describe someone who is meticulous and conscientious in their duties, reflecting a deep sense of responsibility and integrity.

Strokes9Radical忄
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of scrupulousness is highly valued, often linked to Confucian ideals of duty and respect for others. The character 恪 embodies this cultural ethos, emphasizing the importance of integrity in personal conduct.

Memory tip

Imagine a person kneeling (the heart radical 心) in respect (恪) as they carefully tend to their duties, signifying their scrupulous nature. The character's form combines the heart (心) with a component that suggests restraint or carefulness, reminding you of the importance of respectful behavior.

Meanings of 恪

kè(Ke4)
1respectful, reverent
2scrupulous
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 恪 means.

About 恪

恪Simplified
9Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 恪

JasonAmy

Podcast: 恪

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 恪

Quick Contrast

恪 (kè) vs 诚 (chéng): use 恪 when highlighting scrupulousness and adherence to duties, while 诚 denotes sincerity and honesty.

Usage Notes

This character is more formal and is typically used in written language rather than spoken. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure you use it in contexts that highlight respect or scrupulousness, such as in a professional or academic setting.

HSK Study Tips

Although 恪 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to other words related to virtues and ethical behavior, which are crucial in understanding cultural nuances. Focus on its use in formal contexts and how it pairs with other characters that express moral attributes.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 恪 with other characters that sound similar, such as 客 (kè), which means 'guest.' For example, saying '我很客' instead of '我很恪' would be incorrect when trying to express a sense of scrupulousness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恪

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 恪, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 恪 to you

Let me explain 恪 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 恪 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 恪?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 恪 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 恪

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound. Simplified form of 愙.

Memory hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)忄
+
Phonetic (sound)各
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

恪 = 忄 + 各. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 恪

IDS Structure⿰忄各
恪Full character
=
忄xin1
left
各ge4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 恪?

How to say respectful, reverent in Chinese

“respectful, reverent” in Chinese is恪kè

The character 恪 (kè) conveys a sense of respect and reverence, often used in contexts emphasizing scrupulous behavior or adherence to moral principles. It can describe someone who is meticulous and conscientious in their duties, reflecting a deep sense of responsibility and integrity.

When to use 恪

This character is more formal and is typically used in written language rather than spoken. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure you use it in contexts that highlight respect or scrupulousness, such as in a professional or academic setting.

恪 or something close to it

恪 (kè) vs 诚 (chéng): use 恪 when highlighting scrupulousness and adherence to duties, while 诚 denotes sincerity and honesty.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 恪 with other characters that sound similar, such as 客 (kè), which means 'guest.' For example, saying '我很客' instead of '我很恪' would be incorrect when trying to express a sense of scrupulousness.

Write 恪

恪

Practice writing 恪 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 恪

恪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她这一辈子都____守这些原则。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.

Example sentences for 恪 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她这一辈子都恪守这些原则。

tā zhè yíbèizi dōu kè shǒu zhèxiē yuánzé。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.
2
它的确能让你恪守某些公平原则。

tā díquè néng ràng nǐ kè shǒu mǒu xiē gōngpíng yuánzé。

It does hold you to certain standards of fairness.
3
直升机虽然已经挎起来?毋恪两耶飞行员到担呀揣无.

zhíshēngjī suīrán yǐjīng kuà qǐlái? wú kè liǎng yē fēixíngyuán dào dān yā chuāi wú.

The wreckage has been recovered but the two pilots are still missing.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 恪?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 恪

Words containing this character3
恪守to scrupulously abide by
恪kèrespectful
恪遵to scrupulously observe (rules, traditions etc)
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 恪

What does 恪守 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 恪

It is pronounced as 'kè' with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 恪?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab