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挂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
挂guàto hang or suspend (from a hook etc)HSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto hang up (the phone)HSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto be worried or concernedHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto make a phone call (dialect)HSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto register or recordHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto hitchHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàclassifier for sets or clusters of objectsHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto suspend, to put up, to hang; suspenseHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guà(of a line) to be deadHSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guà(slang) to killHSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto dieHSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto be finishedHSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
挂guàto fail (an exam)HSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #896, Medium
guà(gua4) T4
  1. 1to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)
  2. 2to hang up (the phone)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

挂(掛)guà(gua4)

The character 挂 (guà) primarily means 'to hang' or 'to suspend,' often in relation to objects suspended from hooks or similar supports. It can also refer to the act of hanging up a phone call or expressing worry and concern. In some dialects, it can mean to make a phone call or to record something.

Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#896DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, hanging things can symbolize good luck and prosperity, especially during festivals when items are hung to attract positive energy. For example, red lanterns are often hung during the Lunar New Year.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large hook (挂) holding a colorful coat. The hook looks like a 'G' for 'guà' and the coat hanging down represents the action of suspending something. Visualizing this scene helps link the pronunciation with its meaning.

Meanings of 挂

guà(gua4)
1to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)
2to hang up (the phone)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 挂

挂Simplified
掛Traditional
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#896Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 挂

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Podcast: 挂

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 挂

Quick Contrast

挂 (guà) vs 悬 (xuán) — use 挂 for hanging objects from hooks, while 悬 implies a more abstract or elevated suspension.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include mixing up 挂 with similar verbs like 持 (chí, to hold), which can lead to incorrect usage. This verb is informal and can be used in everyday conversations, but be cautious of the context when expressing concern, as it can be interpreted differently based on tone and situation.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 挂 connects with other verbs describing actions, such as 放 (fàng, to put down) and 取 (qǔ, to take). Students should focus on different contexts where 'hanging' can be applied, such as in phone conversations or expressing feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 挂 with 掛 (guà, used in traditional Chinese), leading to incorrect writing or pronunciation. Always ensure you use the simplified version, 挂, when referring to the action of hanging.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 挂

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Etymology of 挂

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound. Simplified form of 掛.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)圭
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 挂

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound. Simplified form of 掛.

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half圭 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 挂? 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 挂?

Decomposition of 挂

IDS Structure⿰扌圭
挂Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
圭gui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 挂?

How to say to hang or suspend (from a hook etc) in Chinese

“to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)” in Chinese is挂guà

The character 挂 (guà) primarily means 'to hang' or 'to suspend,' often in relation to objects suspended from hooks or similar supports. It can also refer to the act of hanging up a phone call or expressing worry and concern. In some dialects, it can mean to make a phone call or to record something.

When to use 挂

Common mistakes include mixing up 挂 with similar verbs like 持 (chí, to hold), which can lead to incorrect usage. This verb is informal and can be used in everyday conversations, but be cautious of the context when expressing concern, as it can be interpreted differently based on tone and situation.

挂 or something close to it

挂 (guà) vs 悬 (xuán) — use 挂 for hanging objects from hooks, while 悬 implies a more abstract or elevated suspension.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 挂 with 掛 (guà, used in traditional Chinese), leading to incorrect writing or pronunciation. Always ensure you use the simplified version, 挂, when referring to the action of hanging.

Write 挂

挂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 挂

挂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons6
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

这个画是挂在墙上的。

Zhège huà shì guà zài qiáng shàng de.

This painting is hung on the wall.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

墙上____了一幅画儿。

A painting is hanging on the wall.

Common Confusions with 挂

挂vs𠂇
guà

Similar sound and function in some contexts.

挂 means to hang, while 拉 means to pull.

1

我挂了画，不要拉它。

挂 means to hang, while 拉 means to pull.

💡挂 has the hook radical, think of hanging something.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)"?

or

Usage Notes for 挂

Confusion with usageCommon Error

Learners often confuse 挂 with other similar verbs like 持 (to hold) or 拉 (to pull).

1

我应该用挂来描述这个动作。

I should use 挂 to describe this action.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我应该用____来描述这个动作。

I should use 挂 to describe this action.

Example Sentences for 挂 (13)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你可以在玻璃后面挂几条织品。

nǐ kě yǐ zài bō lí hòu miàn guà jī tiáo zhī pǐn。

You can hang lengths of fabric behind the glass.
2
他们已经在他的公寓门上上了把挂锁。

tā mén yǐ jīng zài tā de gōng yù mén shàng shàng le bǎ guà suǒ。

They had put a padlock on the door of his flat.
3
杀了猪，猪腿挂在天花板上风干。

shā le zhū， ， zhū tuǐ guà zài tiān huā bǎn shàng fēng。

Pigs were butchered, hams were hung to dry from the ceiling.
4
几个囚犯爬上房顶，挂起了一面旗子。

jī gè qiú fàn pá shàng fáng dǐng， ， guà qǐ le yī miàn qí。

Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner.
5
她脖子上戴着一条银项链，上面挂着个十字架。

tā bó zǐ shàng dài zháo yī tiáo yín xiàng liàn， ， shàng miàn guà zháo gè shí zì。

Round her neck was a cross on a silver chain.
6
这些已经用伸缩杆挂好。

zhè xiē yǐ jīng yòng shēn suō gān guà hǎo。

These were hung in place with extendable rods.
7
把这幅画挂在便于它显示较好效果的地方.

bǎ zhè fú huà guà zài biàn yú tā xiǎn shì jiào hǎo xiào guǒ de dì fāng.

Hang the picture somewhere where it will show up to advantage.
8
他走到船头看帆是否挂好了.

tā zǒu dào chuán tóu kàn fān shì fǒu guà hǎo le.

He went fore to see whether the sail was properly in place.
9
他们中一些人手持枪尖上挂着皱缩人头的长矛。

tā mén zhōng yī xiē rén shǒu chí qiāng jiān shàng guà zháo zhòu suō rén tóu de cháng máo。

Some of them carried pikes with shrivelled heads on top.
10
他两条腿都挂彩了，人也被如雨的弹片炸成重伤。

tā liǎng tiáo tuǐ dū guà cǎi le， ， rén yě bèi rú yǔ de dàn piàn zhà chéng zhòng。

He was wounded in both legs and severely peppered with shrapnel.
11
他在客厅的墙上挂了一幅他自己画的油画。

Tā zài kètīng de qiáng shàng guà le yī fú tā zìjǐ huà de yóuhuà.

He hung a painting he painted himself on the living room wall.
12
冬天来临时，我会在窗户上挂厚厚的窗帘保暖。

Dōngtiān láilín shí, wǒ huì zài chuānghù shàng guà hòuhòu de chuānglián bǎonuǎn.

When winter comes, I hang thick curtains on the windows to keep warm.
13
在展览开幕之前，他们小心翼翼地把每一件艺术品挂在指定的位置。

Zài zhǎnlǎn kāimù zhīqián, tāmen xiǎoxīn yìyì de bǎ měi yī jiàn yìshùpǐn guà zài zhǐdìng de wèizhì.

Before the exhibition opened, they carefully hung each piece of art in its designated place.

Cultural Notes for 挂

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, hanging things often symbolizes good fortune. For example, people may hang red lanterns during festivals to invite luck and prosperity into their homes.

Word Family of 挂

Words Containing This Character20
挂guàto die掛
挂牌lit. to hang up a plate掛牌
牵挂qiānguàto worry about牽掛
悬挂xuánguàto suspend懸掛
挂念guàniànconcerned掛念
挂帅to be in command掛帥
挂号guàhàoto send by registered mail掛號
挂断to hang up (a phone)掛斷
倒挂lit. to hang upside down倒掛
挂靠affiliation掛靠
挂历wall calendar掛曆
挂失guàshīto report the loss of something掛失
挂职temporary assignment to a Chinese government or CPC post掛職
挂毯tapestry掛毯
挂号信registered letter掛號信
一丝不挂without a stitch of clothing一絲不掛
挂彩to be wounded in action掛彩
挂心to worry掛心
挂钩guàgōuto couple掛鉤
挂钟wall clock掛鐘
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 挂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 挂

挂 (guà) specifically refers to hanging or suspending something, while 持 (chí) means to hold or grasp. They convey different actions and contexts, with 持 often indicating a more active engagement with an object.

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