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March 24, 2026
葛gé(ge2)
The character 葛 (gé) primarily refers to a type of plant known as kudzu, which is often used for its edible roots and as a vine. It can also denote a surname and is associated with hemp cloth in Chinese culture. In culinary contexts, 葛 can be linked to dishes made from its starch or root, emphasizing its nutritional value.
Strokes12Radical艹Frequency#7147DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, kudzu (葛) is valued not just for its edible properties but also for its medicinal benefits in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is believed to help with detoxification. The vine's rapid growth and ability to cover landscapes have made it symbolic of resilience.
Memory Tip
Think of 葛 as a vine climbing upwards (the plant's form), resembling a green snake named 'Ge' that wraps around trees. The pronunciation 'gé' sounds like 'guy,' picturing a guy climbing a vine to illustrate the plant's nature.
Meanings of 葛
gé(ge2)
primary
1an edible bean; vine; surname
2kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 葛
葛Simplified
12Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 葛
Podcast: 葛
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AI Study Notes for 葛
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 葛 with similar characters; it's often mistakenly pronounced with the wrong tone. This character is more frequently used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about botany or traditional medicine. Common collocations include 葛根 (gé gēn, kudzu root) and 葛藤 (gé téng, tangled vines).
HSK Study Tips
While 葛 is not on the HSK list, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to plants and food. Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and its uses in traditional Chinese medicine, which can enhance their understanding of health-related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 葛 with other similar characters like 藁 (gǎo), which also refers to plants. A common error is saying 'gǎ' instead of 'gé'; remember to use the rising tone for correct pronunciation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 葛
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half曷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 葛? 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 葛?
Decomposition of 葛
IDS Structure⿱艹曷
葛Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
曷he2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 葛?
How to say surname Ge in Chinese
“surname Ge” in Chinese is葛gě
The character 葛 (gé) primarily refers to a type of plant known as kudzu, which is often used for its edible roots and as a vine. It can also denote a surname and is associated with hemp cloth in Chinese culture. In culinary contexts, 葛 can be linked to dishes made from its starch or root, emphasizing its nutritional value.
When to use 葛
Be careful not to confuse 葛 with similar characters; it's often mistakenly pronounced with the wrong tone. This character is more frequently used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about botany or traditional medicine. Common collocations include 葛根 (gé gēn, kudzu root) and 葛藤 (gé téng, tangled vines).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 葛 with other similar characters like 藁 (gǎo), which also refers to plants. A common error is saying 'gǎ' instead of 'gé'; remember to use the rising tone for correct pronunciation.
Write 葛
葛
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Practice writing 葛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 葛
葛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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
Complete the Sentence
艾森豪威尔离开白宫，退隐到他在____底斯堡的农场。
Eisenhower left the White House and retired to his farm in Gettysburg.
