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March 24, 2026
糕gāo(gao1)
The character 糕 (gāo) refers to a type of cake or pastry, often made from rice flour or other ingredients. It is commonly used in various Chinese desserts and can indicate both sweet and savory varieties. In everyday contexts, it is seen in terms like 'mooncake' (月饼, yuèbǐng) or 'rice cake' (米糕, mǐgāo).
Strokes16Radical米Frequency#9135DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, certain types of cakes, especially during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, hold symbolic meanings and are often shared among family and friends. For instance, mooncakes are a traditional delicacy that represents reunion and harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fluffy cake rising high like a mountain (高, gāo) and covered in sweet frosting. The character 糕 has a 'cake' shape, with the left side resembling a bowl that holds all the delicious ingredients, helping you remember it means 'cake' and sounds like 'gāo'.
Meanings of 糕
gāo(gao1)
1cake
2cake, pastry
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 糕
糕Simplified
16Strokes
米Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9135Frequency Rank
Podcast: 糕
Podcast: 糕
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AI Study Notes for 糕
Quick Contrast
饼 (bǐng) — use 糕 for steamed or soft cakes, while 饼 refers to flatbreads or pancakes.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fluffy cake rising high like a mountain (高, gāo) and covered in sweet frosting. The character 糕 has a 'cake' shape, with the left side resembling a bowl that holds all the delicious ingredients, helping you remember it means 'cake' and sounds like 'gāo'.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 糕 is often used in compound words and may not stand alone in casual conversation. It is informal and more commonly used in culinary contexts. Common collocations include 'rice cake' (米糕) and 'birthday cake' (生日蛋糕, shēngrì dàngāo).
HSK Study Tips
Although 糕 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to Level 2 words like '米' (mǐ, rice) and '甜' (tián, sweet), which are relevant in food discussions. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in context and in combination with other food-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, certain types of cakes, especially during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, hold symbolic meanings and are often shared among family and friends. For instance, mooncakes are a traditional delicacy that represents reunion and harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 糕 with 蛋糕 (dàngāo), which specifically refers to 'birthday cake' or 'cake' in a Western sense. Remember, 糕 has a broader meaning that includes various types of cakes and pastries.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 糕
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Grammar Patterns of 糕
糕 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 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.
dài wǒ ér zǐ bǐ dé wài chū chī fàn jiǎn zhí zāo gāo tòu le。
Taking my son Peter to a restaurant was a nightmare.
3
莫利笑话我糟糕的方向感。
mò lì xiào huà wǒ zāo gāo de fāng xiàng gǎn。
Molly razzed me about my rotten sense of direction.
4
最糟糕的事情是，你给朋友打电话，而他们却出去了。
zuì zāo gāo de shì qíng shì， ， nǐ gěi péng yǒu dǎ diàn， huà ， ér tā mén què chū。
The worst thing is when you call friends and they've gone out.
5
我们陷入了难以言表的糟糕处境。
wǒ mén xiàn rù le nán yǐ yán biǎo de zāo gāo chǔ jìng。
We were in a disaster situation that defies description.
6
这绝对是我吃过的最糟糕的食物。
zhè jué duì shì wǒ chī guò de zuì zāo gāo de shí wù。
It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
7
英格兰队今晚为欧洲足球做了一次糟糕的宣传。
yīng gé lán duì jīn wǎn wéi ōu zhōu zú qiú zuò le yī cì zāo gāo de xuān chuán。
The England team were a poor advertisement for European football tonight.
8
他们在去年选举中如此糟糕的表现并不奇怪。
tā mén zài qù nián xuǎn jǔ zhōng rú cǐ zāo gāo de biǎo xiàn bìng bù qí guài。
It is not surprising they did so badly in last year's elections.
9
英国也有美食，只是一般的日常饮食太过糟糕。
yīng guó yě yǒu měi shí， ， zhī shì yī bān de rì cháng yǐn shí tài guò zāo。
English food can be wonderful but the normal English diet is abominable.
10
蛋糕一烤好就从炉子里取出来。
dàn gāo yī kǎo hǎo jiù cóng lú zǐ lǐ qǔ chū lái。
As soon as the cake is done, remove it from the oven.
Cultural Notes for 糕
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, cake (糕) is often associated with celebrations and special occasions, such as birthdays and weddings. Different types of cakes have unique meanings, like longevity buns (寿桃) symbolizing long life.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, certain types of cakes, especially during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, hold symbolic meanings and are often shared among family and friends. For instance, mooncakes are a traditional delicacy that represents reunion and harmony.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, cake is often associated with celebrations such as birthdays and weddings, while in Chinese culture, cake can also symbolize prosperity and is enjoyed during specific festivals.
Word Family of 糕
Words Containing This Character13
糟糕zāogāotoo bad
蛋糕dàngāocake
糕gāocake
雪糕frozen treat
糕点cakes糕點
年糕nian gao, New Year cake, typically a sweet, steamed cake made with glutinous rice flour
糕饼cakes糕餅
冰糕ice-cream
炸糕fried glutinous rice dough cake
切糕traditional Xinjiang sweet walnut cake
云片糕a kind of cake雲片糕
蜂糕sponge cake (light steamed flour or rice cake)
扒糕buckwheat pudding (snack of buckwheat noodles with sauce)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 糟糕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 糕
The term 糕 (gāo) can refer to a variety of cakes, including sponge cakes, rice cakes, and even traditional Chinese mooncakes. Each type has its own unique flavor and preparation method, making 糕 a versatile term in Chinese cuisine.
While both 糕 (gāo) and 蛋糕 (dàn gāo) refer to cakes, 糕 is a more general term that can encompass various types of cakes and pastries. 蛋糕 specifically refers to 'sponge cake' or 'cake made with eggs,' making it a subset of the broader category represented by 糕.
糕 (gāo) means 'cake' in Chinese. It refers to various types of cakes and pastries, often used in traditional celebrations such as birthdays and festivals. The character can also refer to a variant of the same word, highlighting its importance in Chinese culinary culture.
You can use 糕 (gāo) in a sentence like '我喜欢吃蛋糕' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī dàn gāo), which means 'I like to eat cake.' This shows the character's common usage in context, especially when talking about food or celebrations.
Some common types include mooncake (月饼, yuèbǐng) and rice cake (米糕, mǐgāo), each with unique ingredients and cultural significance.
Yes, while 糕 typically refers to sweet cakes, it can also describe savory rice cakes or other variations.
