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垩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
垩èchalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagaciouszg, 9 strokes, radical 土
垩èto whitewashunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土
垩èto plasterunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土
è(e4)e T4
  1. 1chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious
  2. 2to whitewash
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March 24, 2026

垩(堊)è(e4)

The character 垩 (è) primarily refers to chalk, a substance commonly used for writing on blackboards or for drawing. It can also imply the act of daubing with chalk or using it in a sacred or holy context. In addition, it encompasses meanings related to whitewashing or plastering surfaces, indicating a sense of purity or renewal.

Strokes9Radical土
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, chalk is often associated with education and learning, particularly in the context of teaching and scholarly pursuits. The use of chalk in classrooms can symbolize the passing down of knowledge from teacher to student.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant piece of chalk (垩) that looks like a sacred stone, used by wise sages to write down their thoughts on a blackboard. The character is made up of the radical 土 (earth) at the bottom, representing the ground where chalk comes from, and the top part resembles a stylized stone, emphasizing its importance in sacred teachings.

Meanings of 垩

è(e4)
1chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious
2to whitewash
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 垩

垩Simplified
堊Traditional
9Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 垩

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Podcast: 垩

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AI Study Notes for 垩

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 垩 with similar characters like 画 (huà, to draw), which is more about artistic representation rather than the specific material. This term is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation; instead, you might hear it in educational or historical contexts. Remember to use the correct tone, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 垩 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to materials and constructions, such as 石 (shí, stone) and 土 (tǔ, earth). Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and their meanings, as well as the context in which it is used.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 垩 with characters that relate to drawing or painting, such as 画 (huà). A common mistake is saying '我用画来写' (I use painting to write) instead of '我用垩来写' (I use chalk to write).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垩

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Etymology of 垩

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

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 亚 represents the sound. Simplified form of 堊.

Memory hint

earth

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

Origin

垩 = 土 + 亚. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 垩

IDS Structure⿱亚土
垩Full character
=
亚ya4
top
土Tu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 垩?

How to say chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious in Chinese

“chalk; to daub with chalk; holy, sacred, sagacious” in Chinese is垩è

The character 垩 (è) primarily refers to chalk, a substance commonly used for writing on blackboards or for drawing. It can also imply the act of daubing with chalk or using it in a sacred or holy context. In addition, it encompasses meanings related to whitewashing or plastering surfaces, indicating a sense of purity or renewal.

When to use 垩

Be careful not to confuse 垩 with similar characters like 画 (huà, to draw), which is more about artistic representation rather than the specific material. This term is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation; instead, you might hear it in educational or historical contexts. Remember to use the correct tone, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 垩 with characters that relate to drawing or painting, such as 画 (huà). A common mistake is saying '我用画来写' (I use painting to write) instead of '我用垩来写' (I use chalk to write).

Write 垩

垩

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

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Grammar Patterns of 垩

垩 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

索米尔周围的白____质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.

Example Sentences for 垩 (4)

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1
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。

suǒ mǐ ěr zhōu wéi de bái è zhì tǔ rǎng chū chǎn zhù míng de ān rú pú táo jiǔ。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
2
在白垩质土壤中添加有机物可降低其碱性。

zài bái è zhì tǔ rǎng zhōng tiān jiā yǒu jī wù kě jiàng dī qí jiǎn xìng。

Incorporating organic material into chalky soils will reduce the alkalinity.
3
英格兰南部的白垩质峭壁

yīng gé lán nán bù de bái è zhì qiào bì

the chalk cliffs of southern England
4
地下蓄水层是一些有水的岩石层,如沙岩和白垩岩.

dì xià xù shuǐ céng shì yī xiē yǒu shuǐ de yán shí céng, , rú shā yán hé bái è.

An aquifer is a water - bearing rock stratum such as sandstone and chalk.

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Word Family of 垩

Words containing this character3
白垩纪Cretaceous (geological period 140-65m years ago)白堊紀
白垩chalk白堊
垩èto whitewash堊
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 垩

What does 白垩纪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 垩

You might see it used in contexts like '用垩写字' (to write with chalk) or '墙壁被垩刷过' (the wall has been whitewashed).

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