How to Write 旯 (lá) — Meaning “corner (used in 'gala')”

Imagine the sun (日) is trying to shine into a tight corner, but there are nine (九) shadows blocking it because the nook is so small. This image helps you remember that 旯 (lá) appears in 旮旯 (gā lá), meaning a hidden corner.

Write the radical 日 first (4 strokes), then add the component 九 below (2 strokes). The hook stroke of 九 should curve left slightly, and keep the whole character compact. A common mistake is making the bottom part too wide or leaving too much space between the two parts.

Unlike 日 (sun/day) and 旦 (dawn, sun above a horizon), 旯 has an extra 九 component below and is never used alone. In meaning, 旯 only appears in the compound 旮旯 to mean 'corner,' while 日 and 旦 are common standalone characters with their own uses.

旯 is almost exclusively used in the informal word 旮旯 (gā lá), which means a corner, nook, or out-of-the-way place. You might hear it in spoken phrases like '找旮旯' (to find a corner) or with a Beijing accent as 旮旯儿, adding a colloquial and affectionate tone.

Common words containing 旯 include: 旮旯 (gā lá) — corner; nook; out-of-the-way place; 墙角旮旯 (qiáng jiǎo gā lá) — Every nook and cranny.; 旮旯儿 (gā lá ér) — corner; nook.