How to Write 伽 (gā/jiā) — Meaning “used in transliterations (e.g., yoga, gamma)”

Imagine a person (亻) doing yoga and adding (加) a new pose to their routine. The right side 加 looks like a person stretching with arms out, which reminds you of the yoga connection in 瑜伽.

Write the left radical 亻 first with two strokes — a downward left slant and a vertical line. Then write the right part 加, starting with the horizontal, then the hook, vertical, and two horizontal strokes. Make sure the left part is narrow and the right part is wider and balanced.

伽 (gā) has a right side 加 (add) and is used only in transliterations. 仔 (zǐ or zǎi) means "young" or "son" and has the right side 子 (child). 仕 (shì) means "official" and has the right side 士 (scholar). Their pronunciations and meanings are completely different.

伽 is never used alone; it appears in loanwords like 瑜伽 (yújiā, yoga), 伽马 (gāmǎ, gamma ray), and 僧伽 (sēnggā, Buddhist sangha). Yoga is especially popular in modern China as a fitness practice, so you will see 瑜伽 in many gyms and studios.

Common words containing 伽 include: 瑜伽 (yú jiā) — yoga; 伽马 (gā mǎ) — gamma; 僧伽 (sēng gā) — Sangha (Buddhist community).