阿
阿 (ā) · an initial particle
阿 (ā) means “an initial particle”. It is made of 阝 + 可 and has 7 strokes.
Break 阿 into its parts
What 阿 is made of
- 阝 fù / yì (names) — mound/city side-form
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 可 kě — may
- 丁 dīng — male adult
- 口 kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: 阝 gives the meaning, 可 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
阿 stroke order
Example sentences with 阿姨
阿姨，您好！我是小明。Āyí, nín hǎo! Wǒ shì Xiǎo Míng.Hello, auntie! I'm Xiao Ming.
这位阿姨是我妈妈的朋友。Zhè wèi āyí shì wǒ māma de péngyou.This lady is my mom's friend.
Words with 阿
Also built with 阝
- 那nàthat
- 邮yóumail
- 邻línneighbor
- 郁yùmelancholy
- 郊jiāosuburbs
- 郎lánggentleman
- 郑zhèngstate in today's Henan
- 部bùdepartment
- 都dōuall
- 鄙bǐrustic
- 队duìteam
- 阱jǐngtrap
Quick facts
| Pinyin | ā |
|---|---|
| Meaning | an initial particle |
| Strokes | 7 |
| Radical | 邑 (city, #163) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
Questions about 阿
What does 阿 mean?
阿 (ā) means “an initial particle”.
How many strokes does 阿 have?
阿 has 7 strokes.
What is the radical of 阿?
The radical of 阿 is 邑 (yì, “city”), Kangxi radical number 163.
What parts make up 阿?
阿 is made of 阝 (mound/city side-form) and 可 (may).
Keep learning
Start with HSK 1 · Group 1: 10 words with quick checks and spaced repeats.