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March 24, 2026
僑qiáo(qiao2)
The character 僑 (qiáo) refers to an emigrant or someone who lives away from their home country, often for work or study. It can also mean to sojourn, indicating a temporary stay in a place that isn’t one's permanent residence. This term is commonly used in contexts involving overseas Chinese communities and their cultural ties.
Strokes14Radical亻Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The term 僑 is often associated with the Chinese diaspora, particularly the historical movement of Chinese people overseas during the 19th and 20th centuries, which has significantly shaped global Chinese communities and cultures.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (人) who has a suitcase (夭) ready to go on a journey (the combination of these components evokes the idea of traveling and living elsewhere). This visual can help you remember that 僑 relates to living abroad or temporarily staying in another place.
Meanings of 僑
qiáo(qiao2)
1emigrant; to sojourn
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About 僑
僑Simplified
14Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 僑
Podcast: 僑
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AI Study Notes for 僑
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (人) who has a suitcase (夭) ready to go on a journey (the combination of these components evokes the idea of traveling and living elsewhere). This visual can help you remember that 僑 relates to living abroad or temporarily staying in another place.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 僑 with similar-sounding words. In spoken language, the tones are crucial; ensure you pronounce qiáo with the rising tone. This word is often used in formal contexts, such as discussions about migration or expatriate communities.
HSK Study Tips
Although 僑 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to HSK Level 4 themes of travel and life experiences abroad. Students should focus on how 僑 can be used in sentences involving personal experiences of living in a foreign country.
Cultural Note
The term 僑 is often associated with the Chinese diaspora, particularly the historical movement of Chinese people overseas during the 19th and 20th centuries, which has significantly shaped global Chinese communities and cultures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 僑, confusing it with words that have similar sounds. For instance, saying 'qiào' instead of 'qiáo' changes the meaning. Additionally, some may use it incorrectly in contexts implying permanent migration instead of temporary sojourns.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 僑
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Cultural Notes for 僑
🏮Cultural insight
The term 僑 is often associated with the Chinese diaspora, particularly the historical movement of Chinese people overseas during the 19th and 20th centuries, which has significantly shaped global Chinese communities and cultures.
Word Family of 僑
Words Containing This Character10
侨qiáoemigrant僑
华侨huáqiáooverseas Chinese華僑
侨民expatriates僑民
侨居to reside in a foreign country僑居
外侨foreigner外僑
侨胞countryman living abroad僑胞
归侨Chinese person who returns to China after living as an expatriate歸僑
侨务matters relating to the Chinese diaspora (as a concern of the Chinese government)僑務
侨乡hometown of overseas Chinese僑鄉
华侨大学Huaqiao University華僑大學
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 侨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 僑
While 僑 (qiáo) specifically refers to emigrants, often with a focus on temporary residence, 移民 (yímín) refers more generally to immigrants, usually implying permanent relocation.
Yes, it can be used in casual conversation, particularly when discussing travel or living abroad, but it may sound more formal.
Primarily, yes; it is often used to refer to Chinese emigrants or those part of the Chinese diaspora.
