Meanings of 佻
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 佻
Podcast: 佻
Podcast: 佻
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 佻
轻浮 (qīngfú) vs 轻率 (qīngshuài) — use 佻 (tiāo) for a more nuanced tone of frivolity or unsteadiness, while 轻浮 (qīngfú) emphasizes superficiality and 轻率 (qīngshuài) suggests rashness.
Be careful not to confuse 佻 with other similar characters that convey more serious meanings. This word is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include phrases about behavior or attitude, such as '佻达' (tiāo dá), meaning frivolous behavior.
Although 佻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for students looking to expand their vocabulary around human behaviors and attitudes. Focus on its usage in describing personality traits and practice using it in sentences to gain confidence.
Learners often confuse 佻 with 侮 (wǔ), which means to insult. An incorrect usage might be saying '他的态度很侮' (tā de tàidù hěn wǔ), when they meant to say '他的态度很佻' (tā de tàidù hěn tiāo) to describe a frivolous attitude.
Pronunciation of 佻
Drill the tone of 佻 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 佻
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 佻
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 佻? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Decomposition of 佻
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 佻?
How to say frivolous, unsteady; delay in Chinese
“frivolous, unsteady; delay” in Chinese is佻
The character 佻 (tiāo) primarily means frivolous or unsteady, often used to describe actions or behaviors that are light-hearted or lacking seriousness. It can also imply a sense of delay or hesitation in doing something. Commonly, it may appear in contexts discussing someone's character or attitude.
When to use 佻
Be careful not to confuse 佻 with other similar characters that convey more serious meanings. This word is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include phrases about behavior or attitude, such as '佻达' (tiāo dá), meaning frivolous behavior.
佻 or something close to it
轻浮 (qīngfú) vs 轻率 (qīngshuài) — use 佻 (tiāo) for a more nuanced tone of frivolity or unsteadiness, while 轻浮 (qīngfú) emphasizes superficiality and 轻率 (qīngshuài) suggests rashness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 佻 with 侮 (wǔ), which means to insult. An incorrect usage might be saying '他的态度很侮' (tā de tàidù hěn wǔ), when they meant to say '他的态度很佻' (tā de tàidù hěn tiāo) to describe a frivolous attitude.
Write 佻
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 佻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 佻
Compound Meaning
What does 轻佻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 佻
The opposite of 佻 (tiāo) would be serious or steady, which can be expressed with characters like 严肃 (yán sù) for serious.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 佻?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.