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March 24, 2026
唠(嘮)láo(lao2)
The character 唠 (láo) refers to the act of chatting or gossiping, often in a casual or light-hearted manner. It is commonly used in informal contexts, especially among friends or family, to describe conversations that are more about sharing news or stories rather than serious discussions.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#16390DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing stories and gossiping is a key part of social interactions, especially among women, who often enjoy sitting together and engaging in lively discussions. 唠 reflects this cultural practice of valuing personal connections through conversation.
Memory Tip
Picture a group of friends sitting around a table, their mouths moving as they chatter away. The character 唠 has the mouth radical (口) on the left, which symbolizes talking, combined with a phonetic component that sounds like 'láo.' Imagine them laughing and exchanging juicy gossip, making the scene unforgettable.
Meanings of 唠
láo(lao2)
primary
1to chatter
2to gossip
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 唠
唠Simplified
嘮Traditional
10Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#16390Frequency Rank
Podcast: 唠
Podcast: 唠
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AI Study Notes for 唠
Quick Contrast
唠 (láo) vs 聊 (liáo) — use 唠 for casual chatting or gossiping, while 聊 is more general for talking or conversing.
Usage Notes
唠 is primarily used in informal contexts and is often associated with a friendly atmosphere. Learners should avoid using it in formal settings or written communication. A common mistake is to confuse it with more formal terms for 'talk' or 'speak,' such as 说 (shuō).
HSK Study Tips
唠 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, but it is useful for conversational fluency. Students should focus on recognizing it in dialogue and practice using it in casual conversations, as it helps to convey a friendly tone.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 唠 in formal contexts, such as business meetings, where it's inappropriate. For example, saying '我们来唠一下' (Let's chat) in a serious discussion would be incorrect; instead, use '我们来讨论一下' (Let's discuss).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 唠
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 劳 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嘮.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half劳 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 唠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 唠?
Decomposition of 唠
IDS Structure⿰口劳
唠Full Character
=
口kou3
left
劳lao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 唠?
How to say to chatter in Chinese
“to chatter” in Chinese is唠láo
The character 唠 (láo) refers to the act of chatting or gossiping, often in a casual or light-hearted manner. It is commonly used in informal contexts, especially among friends or family, to describe conversations that are more about sharing news or stories rather than serious discussions.
When to use 唠
唠 is primarily used in informal contexts and is often associated with a friendly atmosphere. Learners should avoid using it in formal settings or written communication. A common mistake is to confuse it with more formal terms for 'talk' or 'speak,' such as 说 (shuō).
唠 or something close to it
唠 (láo) vs 聊 (liáo) — use 唠 for casual chatting or gossiping, while 聊 is more general for talking or conversing.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 唠 in formal contexts, such as business meetings, where it's inappropriate. For example, saying '我们来唠一下' (Let's chat) in a serious discussion would be incorrect; instead, use '我们来讨论一下' (Let's discuss).
Write 唠
唠
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Practice writing 唠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 唠
唠 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. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
