Usage of 卡 (kǎ)
The character 卡 primarily means "card," such as bank card (银行卡), membership card (会员卡), or ID card. It is very common in daily life when referring to various types of cards used for identification, payment, or membership.
Besides the literal meaning, 卡 is also used as a verb or adjective to describe something being stuck, jammed, or blocked, like a machine or a process. For example, 机器卡住了 means "the machine is jammed."
Common Collocations
- 银行卡 (bank card): used for withdrawing money or payments.
- 会员卡 (membership card): used for club or store memberships.
- 卡住 (to get stuck/jammed): describes physical or metaphorical blockage.
Notes
When 卡 is used to mean "stuck," it often appears with verbs like 住 (zhù) to emphasize the state of being jammed. This usage is informal and common in spoken Chinese.
Avoid confusing 卡 with similar sounding words like 咖 (kā) which relates to coffee or sounds. 卡 is always related to cards or blockage.
Understanding these two main uses will help you use 卡 naturally in conversation and reading.