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茇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
茇bástraw, thatchg, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #75694, Very Hard
茇bábetelunknown, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #75694, Very Hard
bá(ba2)ba T2
  1. 1straw, thatch
  2. 2betel
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March 24, 2026

茇bá(ba2)

The character 茇 (bá) refers to straw or thatch, typically used in the context of materials for roofing or flooring. It can also denote betel, a plant commonly chewed in some Asian cultures for its stimulant effects. This character is often associated with agricultural practices and traditional building methods.

Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#75694DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, thatched roofs made from straw were common in rural areas, reflecting a practical approach to building with locally available materials. This character connects to historical practices in various regions of China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a farmer (the radical '艹' for plants) harvesting straw under the hot sun. The sound 'bá' can be linked to 'baa' like a sheep, grazing among tall grass, reminding you of the natural environment where straw is found.

Meanings of 茇

bá(ba2)
1straw, thatch
2betel
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 茇

茇Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 茇

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AI Study Notes for 茇

Usage Notes

The character 茇 is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, so learners might confuse it with more frequently used characters related to straw or thatch. It is more formal and may appear in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of the tone; 'bá' should be pronounced with a rising tone to differentiate it from similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Since 茇 is not part of the HSK curriculum, learners at the beginner level should focus on more common agricultural vocabulary. However, understanding this character can enhance vocabulary related to traditional materials and provide context for cultural discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 茇 with similar characters like 芭 (bā), which means 'banana plant'. It's important to remember that 茇 specifically relates to straw and thatch. Another common mistake is mispronouncing it with a level tone instead of the rising tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 茇

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Etymology of 茇

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

grass

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

Origin

茇 = 艹 + 犮. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 茇

IDS Structure⿱艹犮
茇Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
犮ba2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 茇?

How to say straw, thatch in Chinese

“straw, thatch” in Chinese is茇bá

The character 茇 (bá) refers to straw or thatch, typically used in the context of materials for roofing or flooring. It can also denote betel, a plant commonly chewed in some Asian cultures for its stimulant effects. This character is often associated with agricultural practices and traditional building methods.

When to use 茇

The character 茇 is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, so learners might confuse it with more frequently used characters related to straw or thatch. It is more formal and may appear in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of the tone; 'bá' should be pronounced with a rising tone to differentiate it from similar-sounding characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 茇 with similar characters like 芭 (bā), which means 'banana plant'. It's important to remember that 茇 specifically relates to straw and thatch. Another common mistake is mispronouncing it with a level tone instead of the rising tone.

Write 茇

茇

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

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Word Family of 茇

Words Containing This Character1
茇bábetel

Frequently Asked Questions about 茇

It means straw or thatch, and can also refer to betel, a plant used for chewing.

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