How to Write 嗝 (gé) — Meaning “Burp or hiccup.”

Imagine the right part 鬲 looks like a person with a big belly after eating, and the mouth radical 口 shows that person opening their mouth to burp. Picture someone saying "Gé!" as they let out a loud burp after a meal. This connects the shape to the sound and meaning.

The left radical 口 should be small and placed high, not too large. The right side 鬲 is complex: write the top horizontal line first, then the left and right parts carefully, ensuring the bottom 内 (inner) is balanced. A common mistake is making the 口 too big or misaligning the right side strokes.

嗝 (gé) means burp or hiccup and uses 口 + 鬲. 㕡 (hè) is a rare character meaning a deep gully or ravine, and is not used in daily life. 唪 (fěng) means to recite or chant loudly, often in Buddhist contexts, and has a different pronunciation and meaning. They share the mouth radical but have different right-side components and totally different uses.

嗝 is commonly used in the word 打嗝 (dǎ gé), meaning to burp or to hiccup. In Chinese culture, burping after a meal is sometimes considered a compliment to the cook, but in formal settings it is impolite. The word 饱嗝 (bǎo gé) specifically refers to a full burp after eating enough.

Common words containing 嗝 include: 打嗝 (dǎ gé) — to burp; to hiccup; 饱嗝 (bǎo gé) — a full burp; 嗝 (gé) — Burp or hiccup..