Definitions

gāi ledge, step, terrace; slope

Etymology phono-semantic

hill

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical (derived from , signifying mounds, hills, or elevated earthen structures) indicates the meaning, and the right-side component marks the pronunciation. It denotes a step, terrace, or raised platform, originally referring to earthen steps or terrace layers in classical texts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern