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March 24, 2026
贾(賈)gǔ(gu3)
The character 贾 (gǔ) primarily refers to a merchant or trader, emphasizing the act of buying and selling goods. It can also be used as a surname, particularly in the context of Chinese family names. The character encapsulates the essence of commerce and trade in Chinese culture.
Strokes10Radical贝Frequency#6099DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, merchants have historically played a significant role in the economy and community, often being seen as vital to the flow of goods and services. The character 贾 reflects this importance and the long-standing tradition of trade in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bustling market where a merchant (贾) is trading goods. The top part of the character resembles a roof, symbolizing a marketplace, while the bottom part suggests the idea of transactions happening beneath it. Picture the merchant shouting 'gǔ' as he negotiates prices.
Meanings of 贾
gǔ(gu3)
primary
1merchant; to buy, to trade; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 贾
贾Simplified
賈Traditional
10Strokes
贝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 贾
Podcast: 贾
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AI Study Notes for 贾
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bustling market where a merchant (贾) is trading goods. The top part of the character resembles a roof, symbolizing a marketplace, while the bottom part suggests the idea of transactions happening beneath it. Picture the merchant shouting 'gǔ' as he negotiates prices.
Usage Notes
When using the character 贾, remember that it can denote both the profession of a merchant and a surname, so context is crucial. It is typically used in formal contexts when discussing trade or commerce. Be careful with tone; 'gǔ' should not be confused with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to other words about commerce and trade at HSK level 3 and above. Students should focus on the context in which 贾 is used, especially in business conversations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, merchants have historically played a significant role in the economy and community, often being seen as vital to the flow of goods and services. The character 贾 reflects this importance and the long-standing tradition of trade in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贾 with 价 (jià), which means price. For example, saying '我想买这个贾' (I want to buy this merchant) instead of '我想买这个价' (I want to buy this at this price) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贾
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Grammar Patterns of 贾
贾 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 2 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
据我所知,____森算得上是个好人。
As far as I can tell, Jason is basically a nice guy.
"Giles phoned this morning," Mirella said with feigned indifference.
10
贾尔斯,我想了解一下激光. 你对此题已读过不少资料, 而我却一无所知.
jiǎ ěr sī, , wǒ xiǎng le jiě yī xià jī. guāng . nǐ duì cǐ tí yǐ dú guò bù shǎo, zī liào , ér wǒ què yī.
I want to know something, Giles, about laser beams. You've read the subject up, but I know nothing about it.
Cultural Notes for 贾
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, merchants have historically played a significant role in the economy and community, often being seen as vital to the flow of goods and services. The character 贾 reflects this importance and the long-standing tradition of trade in Chinese society.
Word Family of 贾
Words Containing This Character10
贾gǔmerchant賈
贾庆林Jia Qinglin (1940-), member of the Politburo Standing Committee 2002-2012賈慶林
内贾德abbr. for 艾哈邁迪內賈德|艾哈迈迪内贾德內賈德
商贾shānggǔmerchant商賈
贾宝玉Jia Baoyu, male character in The Dream of Red Mansions, in love with his cousin Lin Daiyu 林黛玉 but obliged to marry Xue Baochai 薛寶釵|薛宝钗賈寶玉
贾平凹Jia Pingwa (1952-), Chinese novelist賈平凹
拉夫桑贾尼Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani拉夫桑賈尼
贾南德拉Gyanendra of Nepal賈南德拉
阿布贾Abuja, capital of Nigeria阿布賈
贾谊Jia Yi (200-168 BC), Chinese poet and statesman of the Western Han Dynasty賈誼
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 贾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贾
In modern usage, 贾 refers to merchants and can still denote buying or trading goods.
Yes, 贾 is a common surname in China and can be found in various historical and contemporary contexts.
It is pronounced as 'gǔ', with the third tone in Mandarin.