How to Write 荅 (dā) — Meaning “small bean / to answer (archaic)”

Imagine a small bean plant (艹) that grows into a shape like a box (合) — the bean is inside the box. Or think of answering a question by combining (合) your words like a plant grows from the ground.

Pay attention to the top radical 艹: it should be written with two horizontal strokes that cross through the vertical strokes, not separate. The lower part 合 is wider than the top, so keep the grass radical compact to balance the character.

荅 has a grass radical on top of 合, while 兹 has two '幺' (silk) above grass, meaning 'now' or 'this'. 芈 has a sheep radical on top of a different bottom, used as a surname. Visually, 荅 looks like a plant on a box, whereas 兹 is more symmetric and 芈 has a distinct sheep shape.

荅 is rarely used today; it mainly appears in classical texts meaning 'to answer' or as part of historical terms like 荅布 (a coarse cloth). It is not in HSK, so learners may encounter it only in advanced classical Chinese or specialized vocabulary about ancient food or fabric.

Common words containing 荅 include: 荅子 (dā zi) — small beans; 荅布 (dā bù) — a type of coarse cloth; 荅然 (dā rán) — dispirited or dazed (classical usage).