Meanings of 嘈
By ear
Play it, then pick what 嘈 means.
About 嘈
Podcast: 嘈
Podcast: 嘈
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Drill the tone of 嘈 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 嘈 to You
Let me explain 嘈 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 嘈 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 嘈?
Learning Lab
Knowing 嘈 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 嘈
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
嘈 = 口 + 曹. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 嘈
Parts
Which of these is part of 嘈?
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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 嘈?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 嘈
Words with 嘈
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.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 嘈?
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.