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鬲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鬲géearthen pot, iron cauldronng, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
鬲géancient ceramic three-legged vessel used for cooking with cord markings on the outside and hollow legsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
鬲gésurname Geunknown, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
鬲lìearthen pot, iron cauldronng, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
鬲lìancient ceramic three-legged vessel used for cooking with cord markings on the outside and hollow legsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
鬲lìsurname Geunknown, 10 strokes, radical 鬲
gé(Ge2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1earthen pot, iron cauldron
  2. 2ancient ceramic three-legged vessel used for cooking with cord markings on the outside and hollow legs
Also a Chinese surname, Ge — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鬲gé(Ge2)

The character 鬲 (gé) refers to an ancient type of cooking vessel, specifically a three-legged cauldron made of earthenware or metal. It was commonly used in ancient China for boiling or stewing food, and is also a surname in modern times. In historical contexts, this character symbolizes culinary practices and ritual offerings.

Strokes10Radical鬲
Cultural Note

In ancient China, 鬲 was often associated with rituals and offerings to ancestors, reflecting the importance of food and cooking in cultural practices. It symbolizes the fusion of domestic life and spirituality in Chinese traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, sturdy pot with three legs, standing firmly on the ground. The shape of the character 鬲 resembles a cauldron with its legs and body. To remember its pronunciation 'gé', think of 'guy' cooking a gourmet meal in this ancient pot.

Meanings of 鬲

gé(Ge2)
primary
1earthen pot, iron cauldron
2ancient ceramic three-legged vessel used for cooking with cord markings on the outside and hollow legs
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鬲

鬲Simplified
10Strokes
鬲Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鬲

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Podcast: 鬲

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AI Study Notes for 鬲

Usage Notes

While 鬲 is not commonly used in modern conversation, it may appear in historical or culinary discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters; its unique structure sets it apart. It is typically used in a more formal or literary context.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鬲 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it enriches your grasp of historical terminology and cultural references. Students should focus on its historical significance and how it connects to other ancient Chinese culinary terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 鬲 with other characters that have similar structures or meanings, such as 鍋 (guō, pot). Ensure you remember that 鬲 specifically refers to the ancient three-legged cauldron.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鬲

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Etymology of 鬲

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Memory Hint

A cauldron 口 with three legs 冂丷

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鬲

  1. 1The giveawayA cauldron 口 with three legs 冂丷
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鬲? 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 鬲?

Decomposition of 鬲

IDS Structure⿳一口⿵冂⿱丷？
鬲Full Character
=
一yi1
top
口kou3
middle
冂jiong1
enclosing
丷ha5
top
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鬲?

How to say earthen pot, iron cauldron in Chinese

“earthen pot, iron cauldron” in Chinese is鬲gé

The character 鬲 (gé) refers to an ancient type of cooking vessel, specifically a three-legged cauldron made of earthenware or metal. It was commonly used in ancient China for boiling or stewing food, and is also a surname in modern times. In historical contexts, this character symbolizes culinary practices and ritual offerings.

When to use 鬲

While 鬲 is not commonly used in modern conversation, it may appear in historical or culinary discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters; its unique structure sets it apart. It is typically used in a more formal or literary context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 鬲 with other characters that have similar structures or meanings, such as 鍋 (guō, pot). Ensure you remember that 鬲 specifically refers to the ancient three-legged cauldron.

Write 鬲

鬲

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鬲

Words Containing This Character1
鬲géearthen pot
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鬲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鬲

鬲 was used in ancient rituals and cooking, symbolizing both domestic life and spiritual offerings.

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Not sure what to learn after 鬲?

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