How to Write 戛 (jiá) — Meaning “To tap; to clatter; a sudden stop.”

Picture a soldier holding a spear (戈) with both hands (廾), suddenly tapping it on the ground and making a loud clatter — then stopping abruptly. The sound "jiá" can help you recall the sudden stop, as in 戛然而止.

Write the top part 戈 first with 5 strokes, then the bottom 廾 with 6 strokes. The most common mistake is making the bottom 廾 too wide or forgetting the dot inside 戈, which is the last stroke of the spear part.

While 威 (wēi) has 戈 with 女 (woman) below, meaning power or might, and 战 (zhàn) places 戈 next to 占, meaning war or fight, 戛 uses 廾 (two hands) below 戈. This unique combination gives 戛 the sense of tapping or stopping, not power or combat.

戛 is rare in daily conversation but appears in literary phrases like 戛然而止 ("to stop suddenly") to describe an abrupt end in music or speech. It also appears in 戛戛 (jiá jiá), meaning "difficult" or describing the clatter of jade, linking to traditional Chinese music and poetry.

Common words containing 戛 include: 戛然而止 (jiá rán ér zhǐ) — To come to a sudden stop; to cease abruptly.; 戛戛 (jiá jiá) — Difficult; also the sound of clattering.; 戛玉 (jiá yù) — The clinking sound of jade..