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嘲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
嘲
cháo
to ridicule
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
cháo
to mock
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
cháo
twittering sound
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
cháo
to deride, to jeer at, to ridicule, to scorn
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
zhāo
to ridicule
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
zhāo
to mock
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
zhāo
twittering sound
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
嘲
zhāo
to deride, to jeer at, to ridicule, to scorn
v, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #23462, Very Hard
cháo(chao2)chao
primary
T2
1to ridicule
2to mock
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
嘲cháo(chao2)
The character 嘲 (cháo) means to ridicule or mock someone, often in a scornful manner. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is being derided or made fun of, and can also refer to sounds that mimic twittering or chirping, like birds. The nuance of the word conveys a sense of light-heartedness but can also imply cruelty or disdain, depending on the context.
Strokes15Radical口Frequency#23462DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, mocking or ridiculing someone can be a serious social faux pas, often considered disrespectful, especially in formal settings. However, light-hearted teasing among friends can also be a sign of camaraderie.
Memory tip
Imagine a bird (the 'chirp' in 'twitter') sitting on a branch, mocking other animals with its sounds. The character 嘲 resembles a bird (the top part) perched above a person (the bottom part), suggesting that it is mocking someone below. This connection helps remember the pronunciation 'cháo' as the sound the bird makes in its mocking.
Meanings of 嘲
cháo(chao2)
primary
1to ridicule
2to mock
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 嘲 means.
About 嘲
嘲Simplified
15Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#23462Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘲
Podcast: 嘲
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AI study notes for 嘲
Quick Contrast
嘲 (cháo) vs 讽 (fěng) — use 嘲 for light-hearted mockery, while 讽 implies a more serious or pointed satire.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 嘲 with similar-sounding characters that have positive meanings; always remember that 嘲 carries a negative connotation. It is generally used in informal contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal speech or writing. Common collocations include 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) meaning 'to laugh at' or 'mock'.
HSK Study Tips
While 嘲 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to vocabulary at higher levels dealing with emotions and interpersonal interactions. Students should focus on understanding its usage in mockery and ridicule, as well as practicing with phrases like 嘲笑 and related expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘲 with 嘲笑 (cháoxiào), thinking they are interchangeable without recognizing that 嘲 on its own focuses more on scorn. For instance, saying '我只嘲笑他' (Wǒ zhǐ cháoxiào tā) instead of '我只嘲他' (Wǒ zhǐ cháo tā) can change the meaning and intensity of the mockery.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘲
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 嘲 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.
嘲 = 口 + 朝. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 嘲
IDS Structure⿰口朝
嘲Full character
=
口kou3
left
朝Chao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 嘲?
How to say to ridicule in Chinese
“to ridicule” in Chinese is嘲cháo
The character 嘲 (cháo) means to ridicule or mock someone, often in a scornful manner. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is being derided or made fun of, and can also refer to sounds that mimic twittering or chirping, like birds. The nuance of the word conveys a sense of light-heartedness but can also imply cruelty or disdain, depending on the context.
When to use 嘲
A common mistake is to confuse 嘲 with similar-sounding characters that have positive meanings; always remember that 嘲 carries a negative connotation. It is generally used in informal contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal speech or writing. Common collocations include 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) meaning 'to laugh at' or 'mock'.
嘲 or something close to it
嘲 (cháo) vs 讽 (fěng) — use 嘲 for light-hearted mockery, while 讽 implies a more serious or pointed satire.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嘲 with 嘲笑 (cháoxiào), thinking they are interchangeable without recognizing that 嘲 on its own focuses more on scorn. For instance, saying '我只嘲笑他' (Wǒ zhǐ cháoxiào tā) instead of '我只嘲他' (Wǒ zhǐ cháo tā) can change the meaning and intensity of the mockery.
Write 嘲
嘲
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Grammar patterns of 嘲
嘲 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我觉得他们____笑我是因为我长得丑。
I thought they were laughing at me because I was ugly.
There was constant jeering and interruption from the floor.
9
他告诉她东波尔顿的男孩们是如何攻击他、嘲笑他的。
tā gàosu tā dōng Bō ěr dùn de nán hái men shì rúhé gōngjī tā、 cháoxiào tā de。
He told her how the boys in East Poldown had set on him, teasing him.
10
他的坦白引起了人们嘲讽的嘘叫。
tā de tǎnbái yǐnqǐ le rénmen cháo fěng de xū jiào。
His confession was greeted with derisive hoots.
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Cultural Notes for 嘲
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, mocking can often be seen as humor, while in Chinese culture, it can sometimes be viewed as offensive, depending on the context and relationship between individuals.
Word Family of 嘲
Words containing this character9
嘲笑cháoxiàoto jeer at
嘲cháoto mock
嘲讽cháofěngto sneer at嘲諷
嘲弄cháonòngto tease
自嘲zìcháoto mock oneself
冷嘲热讽lěngcháorèfěngfrigid irony and scorching satire (idiom); to mock and ridicule冷嘲熱諷
自我解嘲zìwǒjiěcháoto refer to one's foibles or failings with self-deprecating humor
解嘲jiěcháoto justify oneself
嘲谑cháoxuèto mock and ridicule嘲謔
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 嘲
What does 嘲笑 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 嘲
嘲 specifically implies a sense of scorn or derision, while words like 笑 (xiào) can simply mean to laugh without the mocking connotation.
It's best to avoid using 嘲 in formal contexts as it carries a negative tone that may not be appropriate.
You can say '他总是嘲笑我的发型' (Tā zǒng shì cháoxiào wǒ de fàxíng), meaning 'He always mocks my hairstyle'.
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