伽

gā, jiā, qié
亻 + 加

Definitions

gā used in the transliteration of Greek letters
jiā traditionally used as phonetic for "ga"
qié used to transliterate Sanskrit "gha"

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 加 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 加

About

伽 is primarily a phonetic loan character used to transcribe foreign sounds, especially terms from Sanskrit Buddhist texts. It combines the person radical 亻 on the left, suggesting human association or transcription, with the phonetic component 加 on the right, which indicates its pronunciation. The character itself carries little inherent meaning, appearing almost exclusively in transliterated religious and cultural terms like the Chinese renderings of "yoga" and "sangha", enabling the accurate reproduction of foreign syllables that lacked direct equivalents in native Chinese vocabulary.

Example Sentences Hide

瑜伽可以帮助放松身心。

Yújiā kěyǐ bāngzhù fàngsōng shēn xīn.

Yoga can help relax both body and mind.

这座伽蓝历史悠久，非常有名。

Zhè zuò qié lán lìshǐ yōujiǔ, fēicháng yǒumíng.

This Buddhist temple has a long history and is very famous.

他正在阅读伽利略的传记。

Tā zhèngzài yuèdú Jiālìlüè de zhuànjì.

He is reading Galileo's biography.

科学家伽利略改进了望远镜。

Kēxuéjiā Jiālìlüè gǎijìn le wàngyuǎnjìng.

The scientist Galileo improved the telescope.

印尼的伽美兰音乐很有特色。

Yìnní de jiā měi lán yīnyuè hěn yǒu tèsè.

Indonesian gamelan music is very distinctive.

这位僧人精通伽陀的创作。

Zhè wèi sēngrén jīngtōng qié tuó de chuàngzuò.

This monk is proficient in composing gathas (Buddhist hymns).

瑜伽伽师正在指导学员动作。

Yújiā jiāshī zhèngzài zhǐdǎo xuéyuán dòngzuò.

The yoga instructor is guiding the students through the movements.

这尊佛像具有犍陀罗艺术风格。

Zhè zūn fóxiàng jùyǒu Jiàntuóluó yìshù fēnggé.

This Buddha statue exhibits the Gandharan artistic style.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

他 们 你 作 但 使 体 什 代 信 化 位 任 何

Component: 加

架 驾 贺 嘉 咖 迦 茄 枷 袈 痂 珈 跏 笳 哿

Example Words

瑜伽 伽利略 伽玛 伽师 伽师县 伽蓝 伽马 僧伽 欧米伽 瑜伽垫 瑜伽裤