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March 24, 2026
茶chá(cha2)
The character 茶 (chá) refers to tea, a popular beverage made by steeping the leaves of the tea plant in hot water. It is commonly consumed in various cultures, particularly in China, where tea holds significant social and ceremonial importance.
Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#2028DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
Tea culture in China is rich and varied, with traditions such as Gongfu tea ceremonies that emphasize the art of tea brewing. Tea is often served to guests as a sign of hospitality.
Memory Tip
Imagine a steaming cup of tea (茶) in your hand. The character looks like a tree (木) with a mouth (口) beneath it, suggesting the leaves of the tea plant are harvested and brewed to create the drink we love.
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AI Study Notes for 茶
Quick Contrast
茶 (chá, tea) vs 咖啡 (kāfēi, coffee) — choose 茶 when referring to the beverage made from tea leaves, not the coffee made from coffee beans.
Usage Notes
Be careful with tone; chá is pronounced with a rising tone, which is essential for meaning. Common collocations include 'green tea' (绿茶 lǜchá) and 'black tea' (红茶 hóngchá). In informal settings, you might hear it used casually, but in formal contexts, it may refer to tea ceremonies.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 茶 connects to other basic vocabulary related to food and drink. Focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in common phrases, as it's frequently used in conversations about meals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 茶 (chá) with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying 'chā' (叉 - fork) instead of 'chá' can lead to misunderstandings. Always practice the correct tone to avoid these errors.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 茶
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The giveawayplant
3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 茶?
Decomposition of 茶
IDS Structure⿱艹⿱人木
茶Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
人ren2
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 茶?
How to say tea in Chinese
“tea” in Chinese is茶chá
The character 茶 (chá) refers to tea, a popular beverage made by steeping the leaves of the tea plant in hot water. It is commonly consumed in various cultures, particularly in China, where tea holds significant social and ceremonial importance.
When to use 茶
Be careful with tone; chá is pronounced with a rising tone, which is essential for meaning. Common collocations include 'green tea' (绿茶 lǜchá) and 'black tea' (红茶 hóngchá). In informal settings, you might hear it used casually, but in formal contexts, it may refer to tea ceremonies.
茶 or something close to it
茶 (chá, tea) vs 咖啡 (kāfēi, coffee) — choose 茶 when referring to the beverage made from tea leaves, not the coffee made from coffee beans.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 茶 (chá) with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying 'chā' (叉 - fork) instead of 'chá' can lead to misunderstandings. Always practice the correct tone to avoid these errors.
Write 茶
茶
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Practice writing 茶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 茶
茶 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 3 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.
