Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
葜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
qiāSmilax chinax, 12 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
qiā(qia1) T1
  1. 1Smilax china
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
()qiā(qia1)

The character 葜 (qiā) refers to Smilax china, a type of plant commonly found in China. This plant is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and is known for its medicinal properties. In everyday language, this character is not frequently used, as it pertains more to botanical terminology.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, Smilax china is traditionally used for its health benefits, particularly in detoxification and treating skin conditions. This highlights the significance of plants in traditional Chinese medicine and everyday health practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'qiā' (pronounced like 'chia') plant growing wild in the countryside. The character 葜 has a flowing, vine-like shape that visually represents the twisting growth of the Smilax china. Picture a 'chia pet' made of these plants, reminding you of the character's form and its connection to nature.

Meanings of 葜

qiā(qia1)
1Smilax china
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 葜

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 葜

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 葜

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'qiā' (pronounced like 'chia') plant growing wild in the countryside. The character 葜 has a flowing, vine-like shape that visually represents the twisting growth of the Smilax china. Picture a 'chia pet' made of these plants, reminding you of the character's form and its connection to nature.

Usage Notes

Since 葜 is a specialized term, it's primarily used in formal or scientific contexts, often within botany or herbal medicine discussions. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or terms. It's also important to use the correct tone, as a mispronunciation could lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 葜 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners interested in Chinese herbal medicine. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the character's components and understanding its unique context in botany to enhance their vocabulary in related subjects.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, Smilax china is traditionally used for its health benefits, particularly in detoxification and treating skin conditions. This highlights the significance of plants in traditional Chinese medicine and everyday health practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 葜 with similar characters, such as 脂 (zhī) meaning 'fat'. For example, saying '我吃了一个瑜' (Wǒ chī le yīgè yú) mistakenly implies you ate a Smilax plant instead of '我吃了一个脂' (Wǒ chī le yīgè zhī) for 'I ate fat'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 葜

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 葜

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

plant

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 葜?

Decomposition of 葜

IDS Structure⿱艹契
Full Character
=
cao3
top
qi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 葜?

Write 葜

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 葜

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, Smilax china is traditionally used for its health benefits, particularly in detoxification and treating skin conditions. This highlights the significance of plants in traditional Chinese medicine and everyday health practices.

Frequently Asked Questions about 葜

It refers to Smilax china, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine.