Learn a Chinese Character - 糕

1. Character Basics

Radical: 米 (mǐ, rice)

Stroke Count: 16

Structure: Left-right structure. The left part is "米" (rice), indicating it's related to food made from grains, and the right part is "羔" (lamb), which is a phonetic component.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gāo

Tone: First tone (high level)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: A type of sweet or savory food made from flour, rice, or other grains, often soft and fluffy in texture.

Main Definitions:

• Cake or pastry, especially those made from rice or wheat flour
• Confection made from grains, sugar, and other ingredients
• Food product with a soft, spongy texture

4. Common Words

• 蛋糕 (dàn gāo) - Cake

  今天是我的生日，妈妈做了一个大蛋糕。(Today is my birthday, mom made a big cake.)

• 年糕 (nián gāo) - New Year cake (made from glutinous rice)

  中国人在春节期间喜欢吃年糕。(Chinese people like to eat New Year cake during the Spring Festival.)

• 雪糕 (xuě gāo) - Ice cream

  夏天我最喜欢吃雪糕了。(I like eating ice cream the most in summer.)

• 米糕 (mǐ gāo) - Rice cake

  这个米糕很软糯，很好吃。(This rice cake is soft and glutinous, very delicious.)

• 糕点 (gāo diǎn) - Pastries

  这家店里有各种各样的糕点。(There are all kinds of pastries in this store.)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun.

Usage Patterns:

• As a noun: Usually combined with other characters to form compound nouns referring to specific types of cakes or pastries.
• In daily conversation: Commonly used to describe various baked or steamed grain-based foods.
• In formal contexts: Can appear in menus, recipes, or discussions about traditional foods.

Common Collocations:

• 糕点师 (gāo diǎn shī) - Pastry chef
• 糕饼 (gāo bǐng) - Cakes and pastries
• 绿豆糕 (lǜ dòu gāo) - Mung bean cake

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, "糕" (cakes and pastries) holds significant importance:

• Festive Significance: Certain cakes like "年糕" (nián gāo) are essential during the Spring Festival, symbolizing progress and prosperity (the Chinese word for "cake" sounds similar to "high" or "progress").
• Regional Varieties: China has numerous regional cake varieties, each with unique ingredients and preparation methods, reflecting local culinary traditions.
• Ceremonial Use: Cakes are often served at important events such as weddings, birthdays, and festivals as symbols of celebration and good luck.
• Traditional Craft: Making certain types of cakes is considered a traditional craft, with techniques passed down through generations.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Here are some ways to remember the character "糕":

• Component Breakdown: The character consists of "米" (rice) on the left and "羔" (lamb) on the right. Remember that "米" indicates it's a food made from grains, and "羔" helps with pronunciation.
• Visual Association: Imagine a cake (糕) made from rice (米) and decorated with a little lamb (羔) figurine on top.
• Word Family: Associate with common words like "蛋糕" (dàn gāo - cake), "年糕" (nián gāo - New Year cake), and "雪糕" (xuě gāo - ice cream) to reinforce the meaning.
• Mnemonic Device: "糕是米加羔，香甜味道好" (Gāo shì mǐ jiā gāo, xiāngtián wèidào hǎo) - "糕 is rice plus lamb, with a delicious sweet taste."