架 (jià) is a Chinese character meaning “frame”. It is written from 加 (to add; to increase) and 木 (tree; wood), one above the other, and takes 9 strokes.
Build the character for “frame; shelf”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
加 + 木
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分：hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（加 5 画 + 木 4 画 = 9 画）
Memory aid
Keep adding (加) pieces of wood (木) and you build a frame — a shelf or rack to hold things up.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
9 strokes
In real words
- 书架shū jiàbookshelf架 = jià
- 吵架chǎo jiàto quarrel; to have a row架 = jià
- 框架kuàng jiàframe; framework架 = jià
- 绑架bǎng jiàto kidnap; kidnapping架 = jià
Go deeper
All readings
frame; shelf; rack
frame; shelf; rack; to put up; to prop up; (measure word for aircraft, pianos, etc.)
用来放置或支撑东西的架子；支起、搭起；也用作量词，如一架飞机。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 书架shū jiàbookshelf架 = jià
- 吵架chǎo jiàto quarrel; to have a row架 = jià
- 框架kuàng jiàframe; framework架 = jià
- 绑架bǎng jiàto kidnap; kidnapping架 = jià
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 架 mean?
架 (jià) means frame; shelf; rack; to put up; to prop up; (measure word for aircraft, pianos, etc.).
How do you pronounce 架?
It is pronounced jià.
What parts is 架 made of?
加 (to add; to increase) and 木 (tree; wood), one above the other. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分：hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（加 5 画 + 木 4 画 = 9 画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 架 have?
9. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 架?
木. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 架?
Common ones are 书架 and 吵架. The reading of 架 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.