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袈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiāBuddhist cassockn, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #67884, Very Hard
jiāBuddhist monk's robeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #67884, Very Hard
jiā(jia1) T1
  1. 1Buddhist cassock
  2. 2Buddhist monk's robe
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March 24, 2026
jiā(jia1)

The character 袈 (jiā) refers to a Buddhist cassock or monk's robe, which is typically worn by Buddhist monks during ceremonies and daily practices. This garment symbolizes the monk's renunciation of worldly life and commitment to spiritual discipline. It is often associated with humility and simplicity in Buddhist culture.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#67884DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, the 袈 represents the monastic life and is often seen during ceremonies such as ordinations or rituals. The robes are typically made from patched fabric, symbolizing the monk's detachment from materialism.

Memory Tip

Imagine a monk wearing a flowing robe, the 袈 (jiā) representing the peaceful and serene lifestyle of a Buddhist. The character has a 'cloth' radical (衣) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of clothing, while the top part sounds like 'jiā,' evoking the image of a calm, meditative space.

Meanings of 袈

jiā(jia1)
1Buddhist cassock
2Buddhist monk's robe
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 袈

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 袈

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AI Study Notes for 袈

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a monk wearing a flowing robe, the 袈 (jiā) representing the peaceful and serene lifestyle of a Buddhist. The character has a 'cloth' radical (衣) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of clothing, while the top part sounds like 'jiā,' evoking the image of a calm, meditative space.

Usage Notes

In spoken contexts, be cautious with the tones, as 'jiā' can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in religious or spiritual discussions, so it's more formal than casual. Collocations include '袈裟' (jiāshā), which means 'Buddhist robe,' often used in religious texts.

HSK Study Tips

While 袈 is not included in any HSK level, it can connect with vocabulary related to Buddhism and clothing. Focus on the cultural significance of the character and practice its pronunciation to avoid mixing it with other similar words in conversation.

Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, the 袈 represents the monastic life and is often seen during ceremonies such as ordinations or rituals. The robes are typically made from patched fabric, symbolizing the monk's detachment from materialism.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 袈 (jiā) with similar sounding words like 家 (jiā, meaning 'home') due to the tone difference. Ensure you maintain the first tone when saying 袈 to avoid misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 袈

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Etymology of 袈

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

clothes

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 袈?

Decomposition of 袈

IDS Structure⿱加衣
Full Character
=
Jia1
top
yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 袈?

Write 袈

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

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Cultural Notes for 袈

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese Buddhism, the 袈 represents the monastic life and is often seen during ceremonies such as ordinations or rituals. The robes are typically made from patched fabric, symbolizing the monk's detachment from materialism.

Word Family of 袈

Words Containing This Character2
jiāBuddhist monk's robe
袈裟kasaya, a patchwork outer vestment worn by a Buddhist monk
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 袈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 袈

The 袈 represents a monk's commitment to a simple and humble life, symbolizing their renunciation of worldly pleasures.