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垃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
垃lāTaiwan pr. [lè]HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Medium
垃lāgarbage, refuse, trash, wasteHSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Medium
垃lāTaiwan pr. [le4]HSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Medium
lā(la1)la T1
  1. 1Taiwan pr. [lè]
  2. 2garbage, refuse, trash, waste
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March 24, 2026

垃lā(la1)

The character 垃 (lā) refers to garbage, refuse, or waste, commonly used in the context of trash disposal. It is often seen in conjunction with the character 垃圾 (lā jī), which explicitly means 'garbage' or 'trash'. This word is especially relevant in discussions about waste management and environmental issues.

Strokes8Radical土Frequency#41426DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on cleanliness and proper waste disposal, particularly in urban areas where littering can be frowned upon. Understanding the term 垃圾 is essential for discussing environmental issues in Taiwan and mainland China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large pile of trash (垃圾) that has a distinct smell. The character 垃 looks like a messy heap, with the top '土' (earth) representing the ground where trash accumulates. The pronunciation 'lā' sounds like 'lah', as if someone is exclaiming in frustration about the garbage.

Meanings of 垃

lā(la1)
1Taiwan pr. [lè]
2garbage, refuse, trash, waste
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 垃

垃Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#41426Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4

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Podcast: 垃

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AI Study Notes for 垃

Usage Notes

Be careful with the pronunciation, as 垃 (lā) can be confused with 垃圾 (lā jī). In casual conversations, you might hear it used informally among friends, but when discussing waste management, a more formal register may be appropriate. Collocations include 垃圾桶 (lā jī tǒng), meaning 'trash can'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 垃 is not an HSK word, it relates to HSK Level 2 vocabulary such as 垃圾 (lā jī). Students should focus on recognizing this character in written forms and understanding its usage within phrases about waste or trash.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 垃 (lā) with 垃圾 (lā jī) and may forget to use the correct tones. For example, saying 'la jī' instead of 'lā jī' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垃

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Etymology of 垃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 立 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

earth

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

Origin

垃 = 土 + 立. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 垃

IDS Structure⿰土立
垃Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
立Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 垃?

How to say Taiwan pr. [lè] in Chinese

“Taiwan pr. [lè]” in Chinese is垃lā

The character 垃 (lā) refers to garbage, refuse, or waste, commonly used in the context of trash disposal. It is often seen in conjunction with the character 垃圾 (lā jī), which explicitly means 'garbage' or 'trash'. This word is especially relevant in discussions about waste management and environmental issues.

When to use 垃

Be careful with the pronunciation, as 垃 (lā) can be confused with 垃圾 (lā jī). In casual conversations, you might hear it used informally among friends, but when discussing waste management, a more formal register may be appropriate. Collocations include 垃圾桶 (lā jī tǒng), meaning 'trash can'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 垃 (lā) with 垃圾 (lā jī) and may forget to use the correct tones. For example, saying 'la jī' instead of 'lā jī' can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 垃

垃

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

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Cultural Notes for 垃

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, the concept of waste management is becoming increasingly important, especially in urban areas. Many cities have implemented recycling programs to reduce garbage and promote sustainability.

Word Family of 垃

Words Containing This Character7
垃圾lājītrash
垃圾桶lājītǒngrubbish bin
垃圾堆garbage heap
垃圾箱rubbish can
垃圾车garbage truck (or other vehicle)垃圾車
垃lātrash
坷垃(dialect) clod (of earth)
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 垃

What does 垃圾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 垃

The character 垃 (lā) is a component of the word 垃圾 (lā jī), which means trash or garbage. While 垃 refers specifically to waste, 垃圾 is the more commonly used term in Mandarin for referring to trash in general. Understanding this distinction can help you use these words more precisely.

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