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March 24, 2026
咖kā(ka1)
The character 咖 (kā) primarily refers to 'coffee' in Mandarin. It is often used in contexts related to beverages and is also seen in words that pertain to grading or classification. Additionally, it plays a role in transliterations of foreign terms, especially in culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#15186DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
Coffee culture in China has grown significantly in recent years, with coffee shops becoming popular social spots in urban areas. The use of 咖 in '咖啡' symbolizes the blending of Western coffee traditions with Chinese tea culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a barista at a coffee shop asking, "Can I get you a cup of kā-fee?" The character 咖 has a mouth (口) on the left, suggesting communication about this flavorful drink. Visualize the barista serving coffee to a customer as a vivid scene to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 咖
kā(ka1)
1coffee
2class
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 咖
咖Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15186Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 咖
Podcast: 咖
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AI Study Notes for 咖
Usage Notes
When using 咖, be aware that it is commonly paired with other characters like '啡' to form '咖啡' (kāfēi), meaning coffee. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. This character is informal and is primarily used in everyday speech.
HSK Study Tips
Although 咖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to food and drink, such as 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Students should focus on recognizing it in compound words and in the context of dining and social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 咖 as 佳 (jiā), which means 'good' or 'fine.' Remember that the left side of 咖 is 口, not the component for 'good.' Additionally, some learners may forget to pair it correctly with 啡 when referring to coffee.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咖
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How Well Do You Know 咖?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 咖 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
咖 = 口 + 加. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咖
IDS Structure⿰口加
咖Full Character
=
口kou3
left
加Jia1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 咖?
How to say coffee in Chinese
“coffee” in Chinese is咖kā
The character 咖 (kā) primarily refers to 'coffee' in Mandarin. It is often used in contexts related to beverages and is also seen in words that pertain to grading or classification. Additionally, it plays a role in transliterations of foreign terms, especially in culinary contexts.
When to use 咖
When using 咖, be aware that it is commonly paired with other characters like '啡' to form '咖啡' (kāfēi), meaning coffee. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. This character is informal and is primarily used in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 咖 as 佳 (jiā), which means 'good' or 'fine.' Remember that the left side of 咖 is 口, not the component for 'good.' Additionally, some learners may forget to pair it correctly with 啡 when referring to coffee.
Write 咖
咖
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Grammar Patterns of 咖
咖 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.
