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葭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
葭jiābulrush, reed; flute, whistleg, 12 strokes, radical 艹
葭jiāPhragmites communisunknown, 12 strokes, radical 艹
jiā(jia1) T1
  1. 1bulrush, reed; flute, whistle
  2. 2Phragmites communis
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

葭jiā(jia1)

The character 葭 (jiā) primarily refers to bulrushes or reeds, which are tall, slender plants commonly found near water bodies. It can also signify instruments made from reeds, such as flutes or whistles. In literature, this term often evokes imagery of nature and tranquility.

Strokes12Radical艹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, reeds are often symbols of resilience and flexibility, reflecting the ways in which they bend but do not break in the wind. This connection enriches the character's significance beyond just its literal meaning.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant reed standing tall by a river, its shape resembling the character 葭. The left part (艹) looks like grass, hinting at its plant nature, while the right side (可) can remind you of the sound 'jiā,' as if you're calling out to the reeds to play a tune.

Meanings of 葭

jiā(jia1)
1bulrush, reed; flute, whistle
2Phragmites communis
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 葭

葭Simplified
12Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 葭

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Podcast: 葭

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AI Study Notes for 葭

Usage Notes

When using 葭, remember it often appears in poetic contexts or discussions about nature. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar plant-related terms, so be mindful of the context in which you use it to avoid ambiguity.

HSK Study Tips

While 葭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of classical Chinese texts. Focus on its use in poetry and nature-related discussions to build your vocabulary around flora and instruments.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 葭 with similar characters like 草 (cǎo), which also relates to grass. For example, saying '我看到很多草在河边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō cǎo zài hé biān) when referring to bulrushes is incorrect; use '我看到很多葭在河边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō jiā zài hé biān) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 葭

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Etymology of 葭

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

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)叚
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 葭

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half叚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygrass
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 葭? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 葭?

Decomposition of 葭

IDS Structure⿱艹叚
葭Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
叚jia3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 葭?

How to say bulrush, reed; flute, whistle in Chinese

“bulrush, reed; flute, whistle” in Chinese is葭jiā

The character 葭 (jiā) primarily refers to bulrushes or reeds, which are tall, slender plants commonly found near water bodies. It can also signify instruments made from reeds, such as flutes or whistles. In literature, this term often evokes imagery of nature and tranquility.

When to use 葭

When using 葭, remember it often appears in poetic contexts or discussions about nature. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar plant-related terms, so be mindful of the context in which you use it to avoid ambiguity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 葭 with similar characters like 草 (cǎo), which also relates to grass. For example, saying '我看到很多草在河边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō cǎo zài hé biān) when referring to bulrushes is incorrect; use '我看到很多葭在河边' (Wǒ kàn dào hěn duō jiā zài hé biān) instead.

Write 葭

葭

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

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Word Family of 葭

Words Containing This Character1
葭jiāreed
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 葭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 葭

It refers to bulrushes and reeds, which are common aquatic plants.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 葭?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.