Definitions

guà (verb) to hang; to suspend
guà (verb) to hang up (phone); to make a phone call
guà (verb) to register; to record
guà (verb) to be worried; to be concerned

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "挂", traditionally written as "掛", derives from the action of hanging or attaching, with its structure consistently incorporating the hand radical to denote manual activity alongside a phonetic component that has alternated between "卦" and "圭" to approximate its pronunciation. Etymologically, the character's foundation lies in the concrete act of suspension, but its semantic scope gradually extended to encompass more abstract applications, such as registering one's name, terminating a communication by hanging up, or mentally dwelling on a matter, all while retaining the underlying notion of securing or linking one element to another.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他把画在墙上。

Tā bǎ huà guà zài qiáng shàng.

He hangs the picture on the wall.

断了我的电话。

Tā guàduànle wǒ de diànhuà.

She hung up on my call.

请把帽子在钩子上。

Qǐng bǎ màozi guà zài gōu zi shàng.

Please hang the hat on the hook.

我急需失这张信用卡。

Wǒ jíxū guàshī zhè zhāng xìnyòngkǎ.

I urgently need to report the loss of this credit card.

灯笼在门口很漂亮。

Dēnglong guà zài ménkǒu hěn piàoliang.

The lantern hanging at the entrance is very beautiful.

他这学期了两门课。

Tā zhè xuéqī guàle liǎng mén kè.

He failed two courses this semester.

商店出了打折的招牌。

Shāngdiàn guà chūle dǎzhé de zhāopai.

The store put up a discount sign.

她的情绪全都在嘴角边。

Tā de qíngxù quán dōu guà zài zuǐjiǎo biān.

All her emotions are hung at the corner of her mouth.