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咆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
páoto roarv, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #63210, Very Hard
páo(pao2) T2
  1. 1to roar
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March 24, 2026
páo(pao2)

The character 咆 (páo) means 'to roar' or 'to bellow.' It is commonly used in contexts describing loud, fierce sounds made by animals, particularly in reference to lions, tigers, or other powerful creatures. The nuance often conveys a sense of intensity and ferocity associated with the sound.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#63210DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, roaring animals symbolize power and strength, often appearing in literature and folklore. The word 咆 is frequently used in poetry and stories to evoke a vivid image of nature's ferocity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lion (the radical '口' which means 'mouth') roaring fiercely in the jungle. The sound 'páo' is like the echo of its powerful roar that reverberates through the trees, helping you remember both the pronunciation and the meaning.

Meanings of 咆

páo(pao2)
1to roar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 咆

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 咆

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AI Study Notes for 咆

Quick Contrast

咆 (páo) vs 嚎 (háo) — use 咆 for animal roars, while 嚎 is more specific to howling sounds, often associated with wolves.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a lion (the radical '口' which means 'mouth') roaring fiercely in the jungle. The sound 'páo' is like the echo of its powerful roar that reverberates through the trees, helping you remember both the pronunciation and the meaning.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 咆 with similar-sounding verbs like 叫 (jiào, to call) or 吼 (hǒu, to howl). This word is typically used in a more dramatic context rather than casual conversation. Be mindful of using it in appropriate situations, as it conveys strong emotions.

HSK Study Tips

Though not officially assigned an HSK level, 咆 can help expand vocabulary related to sounds and actions. Students should focus on the context in which this verb is used, alongside related words like 吼 (to howl) and 叫 (to call) to deepen their understanding of animal sounds.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, roaring animals symbolize power and strength, often appearing in literature and folklore. The word 咆 is frequently used in poetry and stories to evoke a vivid image of nature's ferocity.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 咆 in contexts where milder verbs like 叫 (jiào) would be more appropriate, such as saying '猫咆' (māo páo) instead of simply '猫叫' (māo jiào) for 'the cat calls.' Always consider the intensity of the sound you wish to convey.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咆

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Etymology of 咆

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 咆?

Decomposition of 咆

IDS Structure⿰口包
Full Character
=
kou3
left
Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 咆?

Write 咆

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 咆

咆 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

老板开始____哮的时候,我起身走了出去。

As the boss began to rant, I stood up and went out.

Example Sentences for 咆 (6)

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1
老板开始咆哮的时候,我起身走了出去。

lǎo bǎn kāi shǐ páo xiào de shí hòu, , wǒ qǐ shēn zǒu le chū。

As the boss began to rant, I stood up and went out.
2
他能听到希尔顿在同休斯敦激烈争吵时的咆哮声。

tā néng tīng dào xī ěr dùn zài tóng xiū sī dūn jī liè zhēng chǎo shí de páo xiào shēng。

He could hear Hilton's strident voice rising in vehement argument with Houston.
3
五大三粗的恶汉趾高气扬地走过来,居高临下地对我咆哮着。

wǔ dà sān cū de è hàn zhǐ gāo qì yáng dì zǒu guò lái, , jū gāo lín xià dì duì wǒ páo xiào。

The burly brute swaggered forward, towering over me, and shouted.
4
当他像狮子般地咆哮时,谁敢和他顶嘴?

dāng tā xiàng shī zǐ bān dì páo xiào shí, , shuí gǎn hé tā dǐng?

Who dares to answer back when he roars like a lion?
5
长江以雷霆万钧之势,咆哮而下,滚滚东流, 昼夜不息.

cháng jiāng yǐ léi tíng wàn jūn zhī shì, , páo xiào ér, xià , gǔn gǔn, dōng liú , zhòu.

The Yangtze River roared east, billowing with irresistible force day and night.
6
“但——但——但是”,我结结巴巴地说道。——“别跟我讲那些‘但是’了。”她咆哮道。

“ “—— dàn—— —— dàn”, —— dàn shì ”, wǒ jié jié bā。——“ bā dì shuō dào 。——“ bié‘ gēn wǒ’ jiǎng。” nà xiē ‘ dàn。

"B-b-b-b-but" I stuttered. — "Never mind the buts," she ranted.

Cultural Notes for 咆

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, roaring animals symbolize power and strength, often appearing in literature and folklore. The word 咆 is frequently used in poetry and stories to evoke a vivid image of nature's ferocity.

Word Family of 咆

Words Containing This Character3
咆哮to roar
páoto roar
咆哮如雷to be in a thundering rage (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 咆哮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 咆

While it primarily describes animal sounds, it can also be used metaphorically for any loud, intense noise.