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March 24, 2026
贾(賈)gǔ(gu3)
The character 贾 (gǔ) primarily refers to a merchant or trader, emphasizing the act of buying and selling goods. It can also be used as a surname, particularly in the context of Chinese family names. The character encapsulates the essence of commerce and trade in Chinese culture.
Strokes10Radical贝Frequency#6099DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, merchants have historically played a significant role in the economy and community, often being seen as vital to the flow of goods and services. The character 贾 reflects this importance and the long-standing tradition of trade in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bustling market where a merchant (贾) is trading goods. The top part of the character resembles a roof, symbolizing a marketplace, while the bottom part suggests the idea of transactions happening beneath it. Picture the merchant shouting 'gǔ' as he negotiates prices.
Meanings of 贾
gǔ(gu3)
primary
1merchant; to buy, to trade; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 贾
贾Simplified
賈Traditional
10Strokes
贝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 贾
Podcast: 贾
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AI Study Notes for 贾
Usage Notes
When using the character 贾, remember that it can denote both the profession of a merchant and a surname, so context is crucial. It is typically used in formal contexts when discussing trade or commerce. Be careful with tone; 'gǔ' should not be confused with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to other words about commerce and trade at HSK level 3 and above. Students should focus on the context in which 贾 is used, especially in business conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贾 with 价 (jià), which means price. For example, saying '我想买这个贾' (I want to buy this merchant) instead of '我想买这个价' (I want to buy this at this price) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贾
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Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 襾 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賈.
1The meaning half贝 carries the sense.
2The sound half覀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymoney
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 贾? 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 贾?
Decomposition of 贾
IDS Structure⿱覀贝
贾Full Character
=
覀xi1
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 贾?
How to say surname Jia in Chinese
“surname Jia” in Chinese is贾jiǎ
The character 贾 (gǔ) primarily refers to a merchant or trader, emphasizing the act of buying and selling goods. It can also be used as a surname, particularly in the context of Chinese family names. The character encapsulates the essence of commerce and trade in Chinese culture.
When to use 贾
When using the character 贾, remember that it can denote both the profession of a merchant and a surname, so context is crucial. It is typically used in formal contexts when discussing trade or commerce. Be careful with tone; 'gǔ' should not be confused with other similar-sounding words.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 贾 with 价 (jià), which means price. For example, saying '我想买这个贾' (I want to buy this merchant) instead of '我想买这个价' (I want to buy this at this price) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 贾
贾
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Practice writing 贾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 贾
贾 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
据我所知，____森算得上是个好人。
As far as I can tell, Jason is basically a nice guy.
