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March 24, 2026
咖kā(ka1)
The character 咖 (kā) primarily refers to 'coffee' in Mandarin. It is often used in contexts related to beverages and is also seen in words that pertain to grading or classification. Additionally, it plays a role in transliterations of foreign terms, especially in culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#15186DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
Coffee culture in China has grown significantly in recent years, with coffee shops becoming popular social spots in urban areas. The use of 咖 in '咖啡' symbolizes the blending of Western coffee traditions with Chinese tea culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a barista at a coffee shop asking, "Can I get you a cup of kā-fee?" The character 咖 has a mouth (口) on the left, suggesting communication about this flavorful drink. Visualize the barista serving coffee to a customer as a vivid scene to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 咖
kā(ka1)
1coffee
2class
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 咖
咖Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15186Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 咖
Podcast: 咖
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AI Study Notes for 咖
Usage Notes
When using 咖, be aware that it is commonly paired with other characters like '啡' to form '咖啡' (kāfēi), meaning coffee. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. This character is informal and is primarily used in everyday speech.
HSK Study Tips
Although 咖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to food and drink, such as 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Students should focus on recognizing it in compound words and in the context of dining and social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 咖 as 佳 (jiā), which means 'good' or 'fine.' Remember that the left side of 咖 is 口, not the component for 'good.' Additionally, some learners may forget to pair it correctly with 啡 when referring to coffee.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咖
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Drill the tone of 咖 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 加 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half加 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 咖? 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 咖?
Decomposition of 咖
IDS Structure⿰口加
咖Full Character
=
口kou3
left
加Jia1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 咖?
How to say coffee in Chinese
“coffee” in Chinese is咖kā
The character 咖 (kā) primarily refers to 'coffee' in Mandarin. It is often used in contexts related to beverages and is also seen in words that pertain to grading or classification. Additionally, it plays a role in transliterations of foreign terms, especially in culinary contexts.
When to use 咖
When using 咖, be aware that it is commonly paired with other characters like '啡' to form '咖啡' (kāfēi), meaning coffee. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion. This character is informal and is primarily used in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 咖 as 佳 (jiā), which means 'good' or 'fine.' Remember that the left side of 咖 is 口, not the component for 'good.' Additionally, some learners may forget to pair it correctly with 啡 when referring to coffee.
Write 咖
咖
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Practice writing 咖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 咖
咖 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 4 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.
