Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
旮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
corner, nook, recessn, 6 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
(ga1) T1
  1. 1corner, nook, recess
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(ga1)

The character 旮 (gā) refers to a corner, nook, or recess in a space. It is often used in colloquial expressions and regional dialects, particularly to describe hidden or less visible areas, like the corners of a room or the recesses of a street.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, corners and nooks may symbolize hidden opportunities or secrets, reflecting the importance of space in traditional Feng Shui practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a little cat (sounds like 'gā') hiding in a corner (the meaning of 旮). The character itself has a sun (日), which can symbolize brightness, juxtaposed with a corner, suggesting a hidden or shaded area.

Meanings of 旮

(ga1)
1corner, nook, recess
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 旮

Simplified
6Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 旮

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 旮

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a little cat (sounds like 'gā') hiding in a corner (the meaning of 旮). The character itself has a sun (日), which can symbolize brightness, juxtaposed with a corner, suggesting a hidden or shaded area.

Usage Notes

While 旮 is commonly used in informal contexts, be careful not to confuse it with more formal terms for corners, such as 角 (jiǎo). It's often combined with 旯 (la), as in 旮旯, which emphasizes a remote or obscure corner.

HSK Study Tips

Although 旮 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should recognize its usage in regional speech. It connects to HSK Level 2 vocabulary like 角 (jiǎo), which also relates to angles and corners, helping students understand spatial terms.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, corners and nooks may symbolize hidden opportunities or secrets, reflecting the importance of space in traditional Feng Shui practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 旮 with similar-sounding characters like 垢 (gòu), which means dirt or filth. Ensure you practice the pronunciation and context of use to avoid this mix-up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 旮

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 旮

Decomposition of 旮

IDS Structure⿱九日
Full Character
=
jiu3
top
Ri4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 旮?

Write 旮

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 旮

旮 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

“你钻到那____旯里搞什么鬼呀? ”

'What the devil do you do in that galley there?'

Example Sentences for 旮 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“你钻到那旮旯里搞什么鬼呀? ”

“ “ nǐ zuān dào nà gā lá lǐ gǎo shí mó guǐ?”

'What the devil do you do in that galley there?'

Cultural Notes for 旮

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, corners and nooks may symbolize hidden opportunities or secrets, reflecting the importance of space in traditional Feng Shui practices.

Word Family of 旮

Words Containing This Character3
旮旯corner
corner
犄角旮旯corner
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 旮旯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 旮

While both refer to corners, 旮 is more informal and often used in dialects, whereas 角 is the standard term used in formal contexts.