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嘅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嘅gěthe sound of a sighx, 12 strokes, radical 口
嘅gěpossessive particle (Cantonese)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
嘅gěMandarin equivalent: 的[de5]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
嘅kǎithe sound of a sighx, 12 strokes, radical 口
嘅kǎipossessive particle (Cantonese)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
嘅kǎiMandarin equivalent: 的[de5]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
kǎi(kai3)kai
primary
T3
  1. 1the sound of a sigh
  2. 2possessive particle (Cantonese)
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March 24, 2026

嘅kǎi(kai3)

The character 嘅 (kǎi) is primarily a possessive particle used in Cantonese, similar in function to 的 (de) in Mandarin. It indicates possession and is commonly found in colloquial speech. In addition, it can express the sound of a sigh, conveying a range of emotions from resignation to frustration.

Strokes12Radical口
Cultural note

In Cantonese-speaking regions, such as Hong Kong, 嘅 is a fundamental part of everyday language and reflects the unique linguistic identity of Cantonese speakers. It showcases how regional dialects can differ significantly from Standard Mandarin.

Memory tip

Imagine a person sighing in exasperation as they say 'kǎi,' which sounds like 'Kai' who always borrows your things and never returns them. The character 嘅 has a mouth (口) indicating sound, and the 'ghost' radical (鬼) hints at the emotional weight of sighing.

Meanings of 嘅

kǎi(kai3)
primary
1the sound of a sigh
2possessive particle (Cantonese)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 嘅

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

Podcast: 嘅

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Podcast: 嘅

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AI study notes for 嘅

Usage Notes

嘅 is predominantly used in Cantonese and is informal; it may not be understood in Mandarin contexts. A common mistake is using 嘅 in a Mandarin sentence where 的 (de) should be used instead. Be cautious with pronunciation as it can easily be confused with other particles.

HSK Study Tips

嘅 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your grasp of Cantonese. Focus on its use in casual conversations and how it differs from the Mandarin 的 (de) to improve your bilingual skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 嘅 in Mandarin contexts where 的 (de) should be used, such as saying '我嘅书' instead of '我的书' (my book). Another common error is mispronouncing the tone, which can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嘅

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Etymology of 嘅

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 既 represents the sound.

Memory hint

mouth

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

Origin

嘅 = 口 + 既. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 嘅

IDS Structure⿰口既
嘅Full character
=
口kou3
left
既ji4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 嘅?

How to say the sound of a sigh in Chinese

“the sound of a sigh” in Chinese is嘅gě

The character 嘅 (kǎi) is primarily a possessive particle used in Cantonese, similar in function to 的 (de) in Mandarin. It indicates possession and is commonly found in colloquial speech. In addition, it can express the sound of a sigh, conveying a range of emotions from resignation to frustration.

When to use 嘅

嘅 is predominantly used in Cantonese and is informal; it may not be understood in Mandarin contexts. A common mistake is using 嘅 in a Mandarin sentence where 的 (de) should be used instead. Be cautious with pronunciation as it can easily be confused with other particles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 嘅 in Mandarin contexts where 的 (de) should be used, such as saying '我嘅书' instead of '我的书' (my book). Another common error is mispronouncing the tone, which can change the meaning entirely.

Write 嘅

嘅

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

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Word Family of 嘅

Words containing this character1
嘅kǎiMandarin equivalent: 的[de]

Frequently asked questions about 嘅

You can use 嘅 to indicate possession, similar to saying 'my' in English, such as in '我嘅书' (my book).

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