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喀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
喀
kā
to vomit; used in transliterations
ns, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #12897, Very Hard
喀
kā
(onom.) sound of coughing or vomiting
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #12897, Very Hard
kā(ka1)ka T1
1to vomit; used in transliterations
2(onom.) sound of coughing or vomiting
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March 24, 2026
喀kā(ka1)
The character 喀 (kā) primarily refers to the action of vomiting or making a sound associated with coughing. It is often used in transliterations and can represent an onomatopoeic sound, mimicking the noise made during these actions. In conversational contexts, it can convey a sense of discomfort or disgust.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#12897DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, sounds associated with bodily functions like vomiting can be indicators of health issues, reflecting a deeper cultural belief in the body's balance and signals. Understanding this character can provide insight into discussions about health and wellness in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a person who has just vomited, making a harsh 'kā' sound as they cough. The left part '口' (kǒu) represents the mouth, emphasizing the action of expelling something, while the right component can be imagined as a person doubling over in discomfort. This visual aids in remembering both the sound and meaning.
Meanings of 喀
kā(ka1)
1to vomit; used in transliterations
2(onom.) sound of coughing or vomiting
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 喀 means.
About 喀
喀Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 喀
Podcast: 喀
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AI study notes for 喀
Usage Notes
喀 is generally informal and may not be suitable in formal writing or speeches. Learners often confuse it with other characters meaning 'to cough' or 'to spit.' Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning or render it nonsensical.
HSK Study Tips
While 喀 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be linked to words related to health or bodily functions, which are often covered at beginner levels. Students should focus on the context in which onomatopoeic words are used and practice listening for similar sounds in conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 喀 with other similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using 喀 to mean 'to cough' instead of the appropriate character 咳 (ké) is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喀
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 喀 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.
喀 = 口 + 客. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 喀
IDS Structure⿰口客
喀Full character
=
口kou3
left
客ke4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 喀?
How to say to vomit; used in transliterations in Chinese
“to vomit; used in transliterations” in Chinese is喀kā
The character 喀 (kā) primarily refers to the action of vomiting or making a sound associated with coughing. It is often used in transliterations and can represent an onomatopoeic sound, mimicking the noise made during these actions. In conversational contexts, it can convey a sense of discomfort or disgust.
When to use 喀
喀 is generally informal and may not be suitable in formal writing or speeches. Learners often confuse it with other characters meaning 'to cough' or 'to spit.' Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning or render it nonsensical.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 喀 with other similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, using 喀 to mean 'to cough' instead of the appropriate character 咳 (ké) is a common error.
Write 喀
喀
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Practice writing 喀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 喀
喀 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
旅行的终点是马拉____什古城。
The journey ends in the ancient city of Marrakesh.
Example sentences for 喀 (6)
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1
旅行的终点是马拉喀什古城。
lǚxíng de zhōngdiǎn shì mǎ lā kā shén gǔ chéng。
The journey ends in the ancient city of Marrakesh.
2
有关那喀索斯的神话故事在奥维德的作品中有过描述。
yǒuguān nà kā Suǒ Sī de shénhuà gùshi zài ào wéi dé de zuòpǐn zhōng yǒu guò miáoshù。
The myth of Narcissus is described in Ovid's work.
3
整个喀布尔都能看到腾起的黑烟.
zhěnggè kā bù ěr dōu néng kàndào téng qǐ de hēi yān.
The rising plume of black smoke could be seen all over Kabul.
4
作为替补队员上场的他为喀麦隆队打入了四粒关键进球。
zuòwéi tìbǔ duìyuán shàngchǎng de tā wèi kā mài lōng duì dǎ rù le sì lì guānjiàn jìn qiú。
Coming on as a substitute, he scored four crucial goals for Cameroon.
5
她的脚喀嚓喀嚓地踩在沙砾上。
tā de jiǎo kā cā kā cā dì cǎi zài Shā lì shàng。
Her feet scrunch on the gravel.
6
风把树喀嚓一声刮断了。
fēng bǎ shù kā cā yī shēng guā duàn le。
The wind had snapped the tree in two.
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Word Family of 喀
Words containing this character20
喀kā(onom.) sound of coughing or vomiting
喀布尔kābù’ěrKabul, capital of Afghanistan喀布爾
喀什kāshíKashgar or Qeshqer (Kāshí) city and prefecture in the west of Xinjiang near Kyrgyzstan
喀麦隆kāmàilóngCameroon喀麥隆
达喀尔dákā’ěrDakar, capital of Senegal達喀爾
喀嚓kāchā(onom.) breaking or snapping
喀斯特kāsītèkarst (loanword)
日喀则rìkāzéShigatse or Xigaze, Tibetan: Gzhis ka rtse, city and prefecture in central Tibet日喀則
喀尔巴阡山脉kā’ěrbāqiānshānmàiCarpathian Mountains, 1500-km mountain range in Central and Eastern Europe喀爾巴阡山脈
喀土穆kātǔmùKhartoum, capital of Sudan
喀什地区kāshídìqūQeshqer wilayiti, Kashgar or Kāshí prefecture in west Xinjiang near Kyrgyzstan喀什地區
喀秋莎kāqiūshāKatyusha (name)
日喀则地区rìkāzédìqūShigatse or Xigaze prefecture in central Tibet, Tibetan: Gzhis ka rtse sa khul, Chinese Rikaze日喀則地區
喀拉拉邦kālālābāngKerala (state in India)
坦噶尼喀tǎngáníkāTanganyika on continent of West Africa, one component of Tanzania
喀什市kāshíshìQeshqer Shehiri (Kashgar city) in the west of Xinjiang near Kyrgyzstan
马斯喀特mǎsīkātèMuscat, capital of Oman馬斯喀特
日喀则市rìkāzéshìShigatse or Xigaze, Tibetan: Gzhis ka rtse, city and prefecture in central Tibet, Chinese Rikaze日喀則市
喀喇昆仑山kālǎkūnlúnshānKarakorum mountain range in west Xinjiang喀喇崑崙山
亚喀巴yàkābāAqaba (port city in Jordan)亞喀巴
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 喀
What does 喀布尔 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 喀
喀 primarily means to vomit or to produce a sound related to coughing. It is often used in a casual context.
No, 喀 is typically used in informal speech and should be avoided in formal writing.
喀 is pronounced as 'kā' with a high-level tone.
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