茄 (jiā) — (in 雪茄) cigar
Definition
Bound form pronounced jiā, almost always seen in 雪茄 (cigar). It also appears in 番茄 (tomato) and the traditional 茄子 (eggplant), where it's pronounced qié.
bound form
(in 雪茄) cigar
Examples
- 。Tā mǎi le yì zhī xuě jiā.He bought a cigar.
- 。Zhè zhī xuě jiā shì gǔ bā chǎn de.This cigar is made in Cuba.
- ，。Tā bù chōu xuě jiā, zhī chōu xiāng yān.He doesn't smoke cigars, only cigarettes.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā茄jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 茄, the top 艹 marks a plant, and the lower 加 gives the sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.