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袈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
袈jiāBuddhist cassockn, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #67884, Very Hard
袈jiāBuddhist monk's robeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #67884, Very Hard
jiā(jia1) T1
  1. 1Buddhist cassock
  2. 2Buddhist monk's robe
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

袈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.

Strokes11Radical衣Frequency#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

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

Podcast: 袈

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Podcast: 袈

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AI Study Notes for 袈

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.

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)衣
+
Phonetic (sound)加
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 袈

  1. 1The meaning half衣 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half加 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayclothes
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 袈? 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 袈?

Decomposition of 袈

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 袈?

How to say Buddhist cassock in Chinese

“Buddhist cassock” in Chinese is袈jiā

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.

When to use 袈

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 袈

袈

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 袈

Words Containing This Character2
袈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.

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