葛

gě, gé

曷 + 艹

Definitions

gé (noun) kudzu vine; hemp cloth

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 曷

About

葛 is a phono-semantic compound with the radical 艹 'grass', indicating a plant, and the phonetic 曷. It primarily denotes the kudzu vine, a fast-growing climbing legume whose tough fibrous stems were historically woven into a coarse summer cloth. The character was also adopted early as a Chinese surname, which remains one of its most common applications today. Additionally, it frequently appears in medicinal contexts referring to the root of the kudzu plant.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

山坡上长满了葛藤。

Shānpō shàng zhǎng mǎn le géténg.

The hillside is covered with vines.

葛根可以用于中药。

Gégēn kěyǐ yòng yú zhōngyào.

Kudzu root can be used in traditional Chinese medicine.

妈妈用葛布做了一件衣服。

Māma yòng gébù zuò le yī jiàn yīfu.

Mom made a piece of clothing with kudzu cloth.

葛麻是一种天然的纤维。

Gémá shì yī zhǒng tiānrán de xiānwéi.

Kudzu hemp is a natural fiber.

葛仙米是一种可食用的藻类。

Géxiānmǐ shì yī zhǒng kě shíyòng de zǎolèi.

Ge xian mi is an edible type of algae.

我喜欢喝葛粉冲泡的饮料。

Wǒ xǐhuan hē géfěn chōngpào de yǐnliào.

I like to drink beverages made from kudzu powder.

虽然葛藤生长迅速，但需要定期修剪。

Suīrán géténg shēngzhǎng xùnsù, dàn xūyào dìngqī xiūjiǎn.

Although vines grow quickly, they need regular pruning.

在中医理论中，葛根具有解表退热的功效。

Zài zhōngyī lǐlùn zhōng, gégēn jùyǒu jiě biǎo tuì rè de gōngxiào.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, kudzu root has the effect of relieving exterior and reducing fever.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 曷

Component: 艹

葛