(1) A vessel for alcoholic beverages; a small chara, sometimes with a base or a spherical stem. Various forms of charka with niello, enamel, or engraved ornamentation were common in Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries.

(2) A Russian liquid measure used before the introduction of the metric system; also called sotka. One charka was equal to 1/10 of a shtof 1/100 of a vedro, and 2 shkaliki. One charka was also the equivalent of 0.12299 liter.