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March 24, 2026
刮guā(gua1)
The character 刮 (guā) primarily means 'to scrape' or 'to shave,' and is commonly used in contexts such as shaving facial hair or scraping surfaces. It can also refer to the action of the wind blowing, or figuratively, to the act of plundering or extorting, especially in informal speech. Understanding the nuances of this verb can help learners use it appropriately in both everyday and more abstract contexts.
Strokes8Radical刂Frequency#2977DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shaving can be a daily ritual for men and is often associated with personal grooming and cleanliness. The use of 刮 in traditional medicine contexts, such as 'gua sha' (scraping therapy), highlights its importance in health practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a barber (representing '刮') scraping the surface of your face while shaving. The character looks like a person (the radical 刀, which means 'knife') about to scrape something off. The sound 'guā' can remind you of a gust of wind scraping past you.
Meanings of 刮
guā(gua1)
1to scrape
2to blow
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 刮
刮Simplified
8Strokes
刂Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2977Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 刮
Podcast: 刮
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AI Study Notes for 刮
Quick Contrast
刮 (guā, to scrape) vs 擦 (cā, to wipe) — use 刮 when emphasizing scraping or shaving action, while 擦 focuses on wiping surfaces.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a barber (representing '刮') scraping the surface of your face while shaving. The character looks like a person (the radical 刀, which means 'knife') about to scrape something off. The sound 'guā' can remind you of a gust of wind scraping past you.
Usage Notes
When using 刮, be cautious of its various meanings to avoid confusion, especially in phrases. It is often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in more formal settings like medical or culinary discussions. Common collocations include 刮胡子 (guā húzi - to shave one's beard) and 刮风 (guā fēng - the wind blows).
HSK Study Tips
While 刮 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on how it connects with other verbs related to actions and movement, enhancing their vocabulary for everyday activities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shaving can be a daily ritual for men and is often associated with personal grooming and cleanliness. The use of 刮 in traditional medicine contexts, such as 'gua sha' (scraping therapy), highlights its importance in health practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 刮 with other similar-sounding verbs like 划 (huá - to scratch) and may use it incorrectly in phrases. For example, saying '我刮了我的头发' (I scraped my hair) is incorrect; it should be '我剪了我的头发' (I cut my hair).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 刮
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Grammar Patterns of 刮
刮 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 6 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.
In Chinese culture, the word 刮 is often associated with weather phenomena, especially strong winds. The phrase 刮风 (guā fēng) is commonly used to describe windy days, and it's interesting to note that the same character can also refer to actions such as shaving or scraping, showcasing the character's versatility.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, shaving can be a daily ritual for men and is often associated with personal grooming and cleanliness. The use of 刮 in traditional medicine contexts, such as 'gua sha' (scraping therapy), highlights its importance in health practices.
Word Family of 刮
Words Containing This Character15
刮guāto scrape
刮目相看to have a whole new level of respect for sb or sth
搜刮to plunder
刮风guāfēngto be windy颳風
刮痧gua sha (technique in TCM)
刮脸to shave one's face刮臉
刮胡子to shave刮鬍子
刮刀spatula
刮胡刀razor刮鬍刀
刮伤scratch (wound)刮傷
耳刮子a cuff
搜肠刮肚to search one's guts and belly (idiom); to racks one's brains for a solution搜腸刮肚
刮目相待to have a whole new level of respect for sb or sth
刮刮叫excellent
顶刮刮tip-top頂颳颳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 刮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 刮
Yes, 刮 (guā) is part of idiomatic expressions, such as '刮目相看' (guā mù xiāng kàn), which means 'to look at someone with new eyes'. This idiom highlights the idea of recognizing someone's growth or change in ability or status. Idioms like this enrich the language and provide cultural insight.
Common phrases that include 刮 (guā) are '刮风' (guā fēng), meaning 'to be windy', and '刮胡子' (guā húzi), which means 'to shave'. These expressions are frequently used in everyday conversation, showcasing the character's various meanings.
刮 (guā) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'to scrape', 'to blow', and 'to shave'. It can also refer to actions like plundering or extorting in certain contexts. Understanding the context in which it is used is crucial for grasping its precise meaning.
You can use 刮 (guā) in sentences like '我刮胡子' (wǒ guā húzi), which means 'I shave my beard'. Another example is '风刮得很大' (fēng guā de hěn dà), meaning 'The wind is blowing very hard'. This demonstrates its versatility in different contexts.
刮 (guā) means 'to scrape' or 'to shave,' while 刮风 (guā fēng) specifically means 'the wind blows.'
Yes, while it's often informal, 刮 can be used in formal contexts, especially when discussing techniques in cooking or health.
No, 刮 can refer to various scraping actions, not just shaving, including scraping food or surfaces.
