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溉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
gàito irrigatevg, 12 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
gàito water, to irrigate, to flood; to washvg, 12 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
gài(gai4) T4
  1. 1to irrigate
  2. 2to water, to irrigate, to flood; to wash
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March 24, 2026
gài(gai4)

The character 溉 (gài) refers to the act of irrigating or watering, commonly associated with the agricultural context of supplying water to crops. It can also imply flooding or washing, indicating the movement of water in various forms. This character is used in specific contexts related to agriculture and the management of water resources.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the management of water resources is vital for agriculture, especially in rice-growing regions. The character 溉 reflects the importance of irrigation in traditional farming practices that have sustained communities for centuries.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'guy' (gài) standing in a field, holding a watering can labeled 'Irrigation' as he showers the crops with water. The flowing water resembles the radical 水 (water) which is part of the character, reinforcing its meaning.

Meanings of 溉

gài(gai4)
1to irrigate
2to water, to irrigate, to flood; to wash
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 溉

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 溉

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AI Study Notes for 溉

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant 'guy' (gài) standing in a field, holding a watering can labeled 'Irrigation' as he showers the crops with water. The flowing water resembles the radical 水 (water) which is part of the character, reinforcing its meaning.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 溉 in contexts unrelated to irrigation, as it is not a general term for water-related actions. This word is more formal and is often used in agricultural discourse, so it might not be suitable for casual conversations. Ensure the correct tone is used; it’s pronounced gài (fourth tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 溉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to agricultural terms often found in higher levels. Students should focus on the water radical 水 and related words like irrigate (灌溉 guàn gài) to build a broader understanding of agricultural vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the management of water resources is vital for agriculture, especially in rice-growing regions. The character 溉 reflects the importance of irrigation in traditional farming practices that have sustained communities for centuries.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 溉 with the more general terms for water, like 水 (shuǐ). For example, saying '我需要水' (wǒ xūyào shuǐ) for irrigation is incorrect; instead, use '我需要溉' (wǒ xūyào gài) in the proper context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 溉

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Etymology of 溉

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 既 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 溉?

Decomposition of 溉

IDS Structure⿰氵既
Full Character
=
shui3
left
ji4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 溉?

Write 溉

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

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Grammar Patterns of 溉

溉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他也想用这些水灌____荒漠。

He also wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

Example Sentences for 溉 (1)

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1
他也想用这些水灌溉荒漠。

tā yě xiǎng yòng zhè xiē shuǐ guàn gài huāng mò。

He also wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

Cultural Notes for 溉

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the management of water resources is vital for agriculture, especially in rice-growing regions. The character 溉 reflects the importance of irrigation in traditional farming practices that have sustained communities for centuries.

Word Family of 溉

Words Containing This Character2
灌溉guàngàito irrigate
gàito irrigate
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 灌溉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 溉

You can use 溉 when discussing agricultural practices, particularly in relation to watering crops or managing irrigation systems.