HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Very Hard
垃
lā
garbage, refuse, trash, waste
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Very Hard
垃
lā
Taiwan pr. [le4]
HSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #41426, Very Hard
lā(la1) T1
1Taiwan pr. [lè]
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#41426DifficultyVery Hard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 垃
垃Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#41426Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 垃
Podcast: 垃
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AI Study Notes for 垃
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
🏮Cultural insight
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.
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
Compound Meaning
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.
垃 (lā) refers to garbage, refuse, trash, or waste in Chinese. It is often used in conjunction with 垃圾 (lā jī), which is the more common term for trash. In Taiwan, it can also be pronounced as [le4].
You can use 垃 in a sentence by referring to trash or waste in everyday contexts. For example, you might say '请把这些垃扔掉' (qǐng bǎ zhèxiē lā rēng diào), which means 'Please throw away this trash.' Remember that 垃 is often used as part of the word 垃圾.
It means 'garbage' or 'refuse', and is often seen in the compound 垃圾.
Yes, 垃圾 (lā jī) is the more formal term for 'garbage', often used in official contexts.
