Meanings of 嘈
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About 嘈
Podcast: 嘈
Podcast: 嘈
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AI Study Notes for 嘈
嘈 (cáo) vs 喧 (xuān) — use 嘈 for chaotic, unpleasant noise, while 喧 emphasizes loudness and clamor without the negative connotation.
Be careful not to confuse 嘈 with similar-sounding words that have softer meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts to express discontent about noise levels. Common collocations include 嘈嘈切切 (cáocáoqiēqiē), which means a noisy and bustling atmosphere.
Although 嘈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 吵 (chǎo), meaning 'to make noise.' Focus on pronunciation and context usage to distinguish between these related terms.
Learners often confuse 嘈 with 吵 (chǎo), thinking they are interchangeable, but 嘈 has a more intense connotation of chaos. For example, saying '这个地方很吵' (zhège dìfāng hěn chǎo) is correct, but using 嘈 instead would imply an overwhelming noise level.
Pronunciation of 嘈
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Etymology of 嘈
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 嘈
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half曹 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 嘈? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 嘈
Identify the Components
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How to say bustling in Chinese
“bustling” in Chinese is嘈
The character 嘈 (cáo) refers to a state of noise and tumult, often used to describe chaotic or bustling environments. It can denote loud sounds that are unpleasant or overwhelming, commonly found in contexts like crowded places or lively gatherings.
When to use 嘈
Be careful not to confuse 嘈 with similar-sounding words that have softer meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts to express discontent about noise levels. Common collocations include 嘈嘈切切 (cáocáoqiēqiē), which means a noisy and bustling atmosphere.
嘈 or something close to it
嘈 (cáo) vs 喧 (xuān) — use 嘈 for chaotic, unpleasant noise, while 喧 emphasizes loudness and clamor without the negative connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嘈 with 吵 (chǎo), thinking they are interchangeable, but 嘈 has a more intense connotation of chaos. For example, saying '这个地方很吵' (zhège dìfāng hěn chǎo) is correct, but using 嘈 instead would imply an overwhelming noise level.
Write 嘈
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Practice writing 嘈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 嘈
嘈 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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.
Complete the Sentence
在黑暗和____杂的声音中，婴儿饱受惊吓。
The baby was filled with alarm at the darkness and the noise.
Example Sentences for 嘈 (2)
Word Family of 嘈
Compound Meaning
What does 嘈杂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘈
The pinyin is 'cáo', with a rising tone. Practice saying it with emphasis on the 'a' sound.
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