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歌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
歌
gē
song
HSK 1, n, 14 strokes, radical 欠, rank #534, Easy
歌
gē
to sing
HSK 1, n, 14 strokes, radical 欠, rank #534, Easy
歌
gē
song, lyrics; to sing, to chant
HSK 1, n, 14 strokes, radical 欠, rank #534, Easy
gē(ge1)ge T1
1song
2to sing
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March 24, 2026
歌gē(ge1)
The character 歌 (gē) primarily means 'song' and can also refer to the act of 'singing.' It is commonly used in contexts related to music, culture, and entertainment. This character embodies the essence of expressing feelings and stories through melody and lyrics.
Strokes14Radical欠Frequency#534DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, singing is a popular pastime, often seen in karaoke (KTV) settings, where friends gather to sing together. The character 歌 reflects the importance of music in social bonding and entertainment.
Memory tip
Imagine a group of people gathered together, singing a beautiful song under the moonlight. The character 歌 has a radical for 'singing' and looks like a mouth (口) next to a person (我), suggesting the act of a person singing aloud. The pronunciation 'gē' sounds like 'guy' and can be remembered as 'the guy who sings.'
Meanings of 歌
gē(ge1)
1song
2to sing
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 歌 means.
About 歌
歌Simplified
14Strokes
欠Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#534Frequency Rank
支Measure Word
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 歌
Podcast: 歌
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AI study notes for 歌
Quick Contrast
唱 (chàng) vs 歌 (gē): Use 歌 when referring specifically to a song, while 唱 emphasizes the act of singing.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 歌 with other similar-sounding words. It is informal and often used in casual contexts, like discussing favorite songs. Common collocations include '唱歌' (chàng gē) meaning 'to sing' and '歌词' (gēcí) meaning 'lyrics.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 歌 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is closely related to basic vocabulary around music and emotions. Students should focus on using it in phrases like '我喜欢这首歌' (I like this song) to practice sentence structure.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 歌 with 曲 (qǔ), which also means 'music' but has a broader connotation. A common mistake is saying '我喜欢这曲' instead of '我喜欢这首歌' to indicate liking a specific song.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 歌
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 歌 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.
歌 = 欠 + 哥. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 歌
IDS Structure⿰哥欠
歌Full character
=
哥ge1
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 歌?
How to say song in Chinese
“song” in Chinese is歌gē
The character 歌 (gē) primarily means 'song' and can also refer to the act of 'singing.' It is commonly used in contexts related to music, culture, and entertainment. This character embodies the essence of expressing feelings and stories through melody and lyrics.
When to use 歌
Be careful not to confuse 歌 with other similar-sounding words. It is informal and often used in casual contexts, like discussing favorite songs. Common collocations include '唱歌' (chàng gē) meaning 'to sing' and '歌词' (gēcí) meaning 'lyrics.'
歌 or something close to it
唱 (chàng) vs 歌 (gē): Use 歌 when referring specifically to a song, while 唱 emphasizes the act of singing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 歌 with 曲 (qǔ), which also means 'music' but has a broader connotation. A common mistake is saying '我喜欢这曲' instead of '我喜欢这首歌' to indicate liking a specific song.
Write 歌
歌
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Practice writing 歌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 歌
歌 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). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
