阿 meaning and stroke order
An initial particle, a prefix used for names; used in transliterations
How to write 阿, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 阿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity
- (bound form) abbreviation for country names beginning with 阿, e.g. 阿富汗[A1 fu4 han4] "Afghanistan"
- (literary) to flatter; to curry favor with
How 阿 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Place.
阝 gives the meaning and 可 hints at the sound.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 阿
阿 is pictophonetic: 阝 on the left hints at a place, and 可 (kě) gives the sound. Picture calling out "ā" across a hillside village to someone you know well, like 阿姨 (āyí).
阿 (ā) is most often a friendly prefix before names and kinship terms, as in 阿明 (Ā Míng) or 阿姨 (āyí). It also appears in many loanwords and country names, such as 阿富汗 (Āfùhàn) Afghanistan and 阿司匹林 (āsīpǐlín) aspirin. Example: 阿姨，您好。(Āyí, nín hǎo.) Hello, auntie.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes put 阝 on the wrong side or confuse 阿 with 河 (hé, river), which has the water radical 氵 instead of 阝. Keep the first-tone ā in names and 阿姨, and do not read it as the literary ē.
Common words with 阿
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阿姨 | āyí | maternal aunt; term of address for a woman of one's mother's generation | HSK 4 |
| 阿拉伯语 | Ālābóyǔ | Arabic (language) | HSK 7-9 |
| 阿门 | āmén | (loanword) amen | |
| 阿拉 | Ālā | (Wu dialect) I; me; my; we; us; our | |
| 阿公 | āgōng | (old) grandfather; polite address for an elderly man, or a woman's father-in-law | |
| 阿尔法 | ā'ěrfǎ | alpha (Greek letter Α, α) | |
| 阿司匹林 | āsīpǐlín | (loanword) aspirin | |
| 阿妈 | āmā | grandma (paternal) (Tw); (dialect) mother | |
| 阿婆 | āpó | granny; mother-in-law | |
| 阿嬷 | āmā | (Tw) grandma (also used to refer to or address an elderly woman) (from Taiwanese 阿媽, Tai-l | |
| 阿爸 | Ābà | (dialect) father | |
| 阿飘 | āpiāo | (coll.) ghost (Tw) | |
| 阿飞 | āfēi | hoodlum; hooligan | |
| 阿爹 | ādiē | dad; father |
阿 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 阿
Learning 阿 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 阿
How many strokes are in 阿?
阿 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 阿 mean?
阿 (ā) means an initial particle, a prefix used for names; used in transliterations. A common word with it is 阿姨 (āyí), meaning "maternal aunt; term of address for a woman of one's mother's generation".
How do you pronounce 阿?
阿 is pronounced ā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 阿?
The radical of 阿 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 阿 under this radical.
Is 阿 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 阿 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When is 阿 pronounced ē instead of ā?
ē is a literary reading meaning to flatter or curry favor. You mostly see it in set phrases from written Chinese. In everyday words like 阿姨 and in names, it is ā.
Can I call any older woman 阿姨?
Yes, 阿姨 (āyí) is a polite way to address a woman of your mother's generation, even a stranger such as a shop worker or a friend's mother. It is also used for nannies and housekeepers.