How to Write 阿 (ā/ē) — Meaning “prefix for names; ah”

Picture a friendly auntie (阿姨) standing on a small hill (阝) and saying "Ah!" as she waves. The right side 可 looks like a person with arms raised, and the left side 阝 is the hill she stands on.

First write the left radical 阝: draw an L-shaped curve then a vertical line (2 strokes). Then write 可 on the right, starting with the horizontal line, then the square, then the vertical hook. Keep the left part narrow and about the same height as the right part; common mistakes include making the left radical too wide or writing it after the right side.

阿 has 可 (kě) on the right and means "prefix for names" or "ah". 邗 has 干 (gān) and is a rare place name (Hán). 邘 has 于 (yú) and is also an ancient place name. Visually, the right radical is different: 可, 干, and 于, so compare those carefully.

阿 is used as a friendly prefix before kinship terms or given names, such as 阿姨 (auntie) and 阿爸 (dad). It is also an exclamation like "Ah!" in surprise. In Chinese culture, calling a woman 阿姨 shows respect, even if she is not a relative.

Common words containing 阿 include: 阿姨 (ā yí) — aunt; auntie; 阿爸 (ā bà) — Dad; father.; 阿谀 (ē yú) — flattery.