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March 24, 2026
尬gà(ga4)
The character 尬 (gà) generally refers to feelings of awkwardness or embarrassment in social situations. It can also describe physical actions like limping or staggering, often implying a lack of confidence or grace. This word is commonly used in contexts where one feels out of place or uncomfortable.
Strokes7Radical尢Frequency#1810DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, social harmony is highly valued, and feelings of awkwardness are often avoided. The concept of 尬 reflects the discomfort that arises when social norms are not met, making it a relevant term for understanding social interactions in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to walk gracefully but ends up limping awkwardly, symbolizing embarrassment. The character 尬 has a component resembling a person (亻) and the concept of being stuck or halted (各), reminding you of the struggle in an awkward situation.
Meanings of 尬
gà(ga4)
1in an embarrassing situation
2awkward, embarrassed; to limp, to stagger
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 尬 means.
About 尬
尬Simplified
7Strokes
尢Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 尬
Podcast: 尬
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AI Study Notes for 尬
Quick Contrast
尴 (gān): Use 尬 (gà) for a more intense sense of awkwardness or embarrassment, while 尴 (gān) is milder and often refers to a general sense of being uncomfortable.
Usage Notes
When using 尬, be careful not to confuse it with its homophone 尴尬 (gān gà), which is more commonly used to express embarrassment in a social context. This word is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal settings.
HSK Study Tips
Since 尬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially when discussing feelings of awkwardness. It can be a good addition to your vocabulary when paired with other social interaction terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 尬 with 尴尬, leading to incorrect usage in social contexts. For example, saying '我感到尬在那' instead of the correct '我感到尴尬在那' (I felt embarrassed there).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尬
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How Well Do You Know 尬?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 尬 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.
尬 = 尢 + 介. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 尬
IDS Structure⿺尢介
尬Full Character
=
尢you2
enclosing
介jie4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 尬?
How to say in an embarrassing situation in Chinese
“in an embarrassing situation” in Chinese is尬gà
The character 尬 (gà) generally refers to feelings of awkwardness or embarrassment in social situations. It can also describe physical actions like limping or staggering, often implying a lack of confidence or grace. This word is commonly used in contexts where one feels out of place or uncomfortable.
When to use 尬
When using 尬, be careful not to confuse it with its homophone 尴尬 (gān gà), which is more commonly used to express embarrassment in a social context. This word is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal settings.
尬 or something close to it
尴 (gān): Use 尬 (gà) for a more intense sense of awkwardness or embarrassment, while 尴 (gān) is milder and often refers to a general sense of being uncomfortable.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 尬 with 尴尬, leading to incorrect usage in social contexts. For example, saying '我感到尬在那' instead of the correct '我感到尴尬在那' (I felt embarrassed there).
Write 尬
尬
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Practice writing 尬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 尬
尬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
