This gā reading exists only inside 戛纳 (Cannes), the French city famous for its film festival. For the verb 'to tap/strike' and 戛然而止, use the jiá reading.
A single top stroke that caps the character. It is not the number 'one' in meaning here — it is the lid-like top of the old graph showing a weapon striking at a head.
Middle 自 originally pictured a nose/face. Combined with the weapon below, the old image is striking someone on the nose — the source of the 'tap, strike' sense.
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戛纳电影节Gānà Diànyǐngjié
The Cannes Film Festival in southern France, one of the world's most prestigious. Top prize is the 金棕榈奖 (Palme d'Or).
