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掛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
掛guàto suspend, to put up, to hang; suspensezg, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #57739, Very Hard
guà(gua4)gua T4
  1. 1to suspend, to put up, to hang; suspense
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March 24, 2026

掛guà(gua4)

The character 掛 (guà) means to suspend or hang something, often implying an action of placing an object in a position where it is supported from above. It can also refer to the feeling of suspense or being on edge in certain contexts, such as when waiting for news or results.

Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#57739DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, hanging items like calligraphy or paintings in homes is a common practice believed to bring good luck and harmony. The placement of these items is often done thoughtfully, reflecting the values of aesthetics and balance.

Memory tip

Imagine a large picture hanging on a wall. The character 掛 has a radical of 手 (shǒu), meaning 'hand,' which reminds you that you use your hand to hang things. Visualize yourself hanging a beautiful artwork, creating a sense of anticipation every time you walk by it.

Meanings of 掛

guà(gua4)
1to suspend, to put up, to hang; suspense
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 掛

掛Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 掛

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Podcast: 掛

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AI study notes for 掛

Quick Contrast

挂 (guà) vs 悬 (xuán) — use 掛 when referring specifically to hanging or suspending an object, while 悬 often implies a more abstract sense of being suspended or hanging, like a feeling or state.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 掛 with other similar characters like 挂 (guà, to hang) which is used in more specific contexts. This word is generally used in both formal and informal settings, but understanding when to use it in phrases like 掛在墙上 (guà zài qiáng shàng, to hang on the wall) is crucial.

HSK Study Tips

While 掛 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares roots with other characters related to actions (like 手) and spatial concepts. Focus on using it in context with verbs of placing or suspending to solidify your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 掛 with 挂, which is a simplified form used in contexts like placing something on a hook. Ensure you use 掛 for general hanging actions and remember that it is more commonly seen in traditional contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 掛

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Etymology of 掛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound. Simplified form of 掛.

Memory hint

hand

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

Origin

掛 = 扌 + 卦. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 掛

IDS Structure⿰扌卦
掛Full character
=
扌shou3
left
卦gua4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 掛?

How to say to suspend, to put up, to hang; suspense in Chinese

“to suspend, to put up, to hang; suspense” in Chinese is掛guà

The character 掛 (guà) means to suspend or hang something, often implying an action of placing an object in a position where it is supported from above. It can also refer to the feeling of suspense or being on edge in certain contexts, such as when waiting for news or results.

When to use 掛

Common mistakes include confusing 掛 with other similar characters like 挂 (guà, to hang) which is used in more specific contexts. This word is generally used in both formal and informal settings, but understanding when to use it in phrases like 掛在墙上 (guà zài qiáng shàng, to hang on the wall) is crucial.

掛 or something close to it

挂 (guà) vs 悬 (xuán) — use 掛 when referring specifically to hanging or suspending an object, while 悬 often implies a more abstract sense of being suspended or hanging, like a feeling or state.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 掛 with 挂, which is a simplified form used in contexts like placing something on a hook. Ensure you use 掛 for general hanging actions and remember that it is more commonly seen in traditional contexts.

Write 掛

掛

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

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Word Family of 掛

Words containing this character20
挂guàto die掛
挂牌lit. to hang up a plate掛牌
牵挂qiānguàto worry about牽掛
悬挂xuánguàto suspend懸掛
挂念guàniànconcerned掛念
挂帅to be in command掛帥
挂号guàhàoto send by registered mail掛號
挂断to hang up (a phone)掛斷
倒挂lit. to hang upside down倒掛
挂靠affiliation掛靠
挂历wall calendar掛曆
挂失guàshīto report the loss of something掛失
挂职temporary assignment to a Chinese government or CPC post掛職
挂毯tapestry掛毯
挂号信registered letter掛號信
一丝不挂without a stitch of clothing一絲不掛
挂彩to be wounded in action掛彩
挂心to worry掛心
挂钩guàgōuto couple掛鉤
挂钟wall clock掛鐘
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 掛

What does 挂 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 掛

You can say 掛在门口 (guà zài ménkǒu), meaning 'hanging at the door'.

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