Keywords: 卡, kǎ, Chinese word for card, Chinese word for stuck, what does ka mean in Chinese, credit card in Chinese, 银行卡, stuck in Chinese, my computer is stuck in Chinese, calorie in Chinese, 卡路里, learn Chinese
Summary: Discover the incredible versatility of the Chinese character 卡 (kǎ). This single character is essential for modern life in China, meaning “card” (like a credit or bus card), but it also perfectly captures the frustrating feeling of being “stuck,” “jammed,” or “frozen,” whether it's your computer lagging or a word on the tip of your tongue. Learn how 卡 (kǎ) is also used as a phonetic loanword for “calorie” and “cartoon,” making it a high-frequency character you'll encounter everywhere.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kǎ
Part of Speech: Noun, Verb, Measure Word
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: A card; to be stuck, blocked, or jammed.
In a Nutshell: At its heart, 卡 (kǎ) deals with two main concepts. As a noun, it's almost any type of plastic card you carry in your wallet. As a verb, it's the perfect word for when something stops moving smoothly—a frozen app, a stuck zipper, or a lagging video game. It conveys a sense of being wedged or caught at a single point. It's also frequently used to borrow the sound of foreign words, like “calorie.”
Character Breakdown
卡 (kǎ): This character's origin is a pictograph of a checkpoint or guardhouse where people and goods would be inspected and could be stopped or “stuck.” You can visualize it as a gate or barrier. For a memorable (though not strictly etymological) mnemonic, some learners see it as an object caught between “above” (上) and “below” (下), which are visually suggested by the character's strokes. This perfectly captures the feeling of being wedged or jammed.
Cultural Context and Significance
Modernization and the “Card” Economy: The widespread use of 卡 (kǎ) in terms like 银行卡 (yínhángkǎ) (bank card) and 公交卡 (gōngjiāokǎ) (bus card) directly reflects China's rapid shift towards a cashless, modern society. A person's collection of cards is a wallet-sized symbol of their identity and integration into the urban economic system.
A Universal Modern Frustration: The verb usage, “to be stuck,” has a strong cultural resonance in the digital age. When a Chinese person says 我的电脑卡了 (Wǒ de diànnǎo kǎ le), they are expressing the exact same frustration an American feels when saying “My computer froze.” It's a universal feeling of an abrupt, annoying halt in a process that should be smooth. This is especially prevalent in gaming culture, where 卡 (kǎ) is the go-to term for “lag.”
Western Contrast: Unlike a broad English word like “stuck,” which can describe being in a traffic jam or a difficult emotional situation, 卡 (kǎ) is more mechanical and specific. It usually refers to a single point of failure or a blockage. For a widespread traffic jam, Chinese uses a different word, 堵 (dǔ). 卡 (kǎ) implies being caught, while 堵 (dǔ) implies being blocked by volume.
Practical Usage in Modern China
As a Noun (Cards): This is its most common noun form, referring to official or commercial plastic cards.
银行卡 (yínhángkǎ): Bank card
信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ): Credit card
会员卡 (huìyuánkǎ): Membership card
礼品卡 (lǐpǐnkǎ): Gift card
As a Verb (Stuck / Jammed): This usage is extremely common in daily conversation, especially regarding technology and mechanics. It's almost always used informally.
Technology: 电脑卡了 (diànnǎo kǎ le) - The computer is lagging/frozen. 游戏很卡 (yóuxì hěn kǎ) - The game is very laggy.
Mechanical: 拉链卡住了 (lāliàn kǎ zhù le) - The zipper is stuck.
Figurative: 我卡壳了 (wǒ kǎké le) - I'm tongue-tied / I've forgotten my lines. 这个问题卡了我很久 (zhège wèntí kǎ le wǒ hěnjiǔ) - I've been stuck on this problem for a long time.
As a Phonetic Loanword: Because its sound is simple, 卡 (kǎ) is a popular choice for transliterating foreign words.
卡路里 (kǎlùlǐ): Calorie
卡通 (kǎtōng): Cartoon
卡车 (kǎchē): Truck (from “car”)
奥斯卡 (Àosīkǎ): Oscar (the awards)
Example Sentences
Example 1:
对不起，我的信用卡卡在取款机里了。
Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ kǎ zài qǔkuǎnjī lǐ le.
English: Sorry, my credit card is stuck in the ATM.
Analysis: This brilliant sentence uses 卡 (kǎ) twice! First as part of 信用卡 (credit card), and second as a verb meaning “to be stuck.” This shows its dual function perfectly.
Example 2:
你能用支付宝吗？我忘了带我的银行卡。
Pinyin: Nǐ néng yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? Wǒ wàng le dài wǒ de yínhángkǎ.
English: Can you use Alipay? I forgot to bring my bank card.
Analysis: A very common scenario in modern China, highlighting 卡 as a physical bank card in the age of mobile payments.
Example 3:
快点！我们的网卡了，视频一直在缓冲。
Pinyin: Kuài diǎn! Wǒmen de wǎng kǎ le, shìpín yīzhí zài huǎnchōng.
English: Hurry up! Our internet is lagging, the video keeps buffering.
Analysis: Here, 卡 is used to describe a slow or lagging internet connection (网卡了), a frequent complaint in the digital age.
Example 4:
鱼刺卡在我的喉咙里了，好难受！
Pinyin: Yú cì kǎ zài wǒ de hóulóng lǐ le, hǎo nánshòu!
English: A fish bone is stuck in my throat, it's so uncomfortable!
Analysis: This demonstrates 卡 being used for a physical object being lodged or stuck somewhere.
English: Don't rush me, I got tongue-tied halfway through, let me think.
Analysis: The set phrase 卡壳 (kǎké) literally means “stuck shell” and is the perfect slang for when you lose your train of thought or forget what you were about to say.
English: The lock on this old door always gets stuck, it's very hard to open.
Analysis: The resultative complement 住 (zhù) is often added after 卡 to emphasize the completed, firm state of being stuck. 卡住 (kǎzhù) is a very common combination.
English: The cartoon characters in this movie are very popular with children.
Analysis: Another example of a phonetic loanword, 卡通 (kǎtōng) for “cartoon.”
Example 10:
我觉得我的思路卡住了，需要休息一下。
Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ de sīlù kǎ zhù le, xūyào xiūxi yīxià.
English: I feel like my train of thought is stuck, I need to take a break.
Analysis: A great figurative use of 卡住. It perfectly describes the mental state of writer's block or being unable to solve a problem.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
卡 (kǎ) vs. 堵 (dǔ): This is a critical distinction for learners.
卡 (kǎ) is for a single point of failure or being wedged. Think of a frozen computer screen, a stuck zipper, or a single car blocking a narrow lane.
堵 (dǔ) is for a blockage caused by volume or congestion. It's almost exclusively used for traffic jams (堵车 - dǔchē) or clogged pipes (堵了 - dǔ le).
Incorrect: 今天的路上很卡。 (Jīntiān de lùshang hěn kǎ.)
Correct: 今天路上很堵。 (Jīntiān lùshang hěn dǔ.)
Not for all “Cards”: In English, “card” is a very broad term. In Chinese, 卡 (kǎ) primarily refers to modern, plastic, functional cards (bank, ID, membership). For playing cards, you must use 牌 (pái).
Incorrect: 我们玩儿卡吧。 (Wǒmen wánr kǎ ba.)
Correct: 我们玩儿牌吧。 (Wǒmen wánr pái ba.)
Related Terms and Concepts
刷卡 (shuākǎ) - To swipe a card; a very common verb associated with 卡.
卡住 (kǎzhù) - A resultative verb compound that emphasizes the state of being firmly stuck.
卡壳 (kǎké) - Lit. “stuck shell”; an idiom for being tongue-tied or at a loss for words.
卡车 (kǎchē) - Truck; a phonetic loanword from the English “car”.