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该 gāi — “should”

How to write and say the Chinese character 该 (gāi), which means should — with stroke order, audio, its story, and an example sentence. Theme: Can & must.

Pinyin · 拼音 gāi
Meaning · 意思 should
Strokes · 笔画 8
Radical · 部首 讠 (speech)
Hear it · 听发音
Watch it drawn stroke by stroke →

Stroke order笔顺

该 is written with 8 strokes, in this order (the red stroke is the one being added):

The story behind it字源小故事

讠 (speech) hints at the meaning, and 亥 lends its sound — together they make 该.

A common word常用词

应yīng该gāi

should

Example sentence例句

该gāi睡shuì觉jiào了le。

Time for bed.

This page is part of the free Chinese character explorer from Casey Foundation Chinese School — a Saturday community Chinese school in Narre Warren, Victoria, serving Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam and families across Melbourne's southeast. New students get a free trial lesson.