Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
嘹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
liáoa clear sound, such as a bell or a soprano; resonanta, 15 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
liáoclear soundunknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
liáocry (of cranes etc)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
liáo(liao2) T2
  1. 1a clear sound, such as a bell or a soprano; resonant
  2. 2clear sound
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

liáo(liao2)

The character 嘹 (liáo) describes a clear, resonant sound, often associated with musical tones or the cries of animals such as cranes. It conveys a sense of clarity and brightness in sound, making it suitable for describing melodious voices or ringing bells. In everyday usage, it's often used in poetic or literary contexts to evoke beauty in sound.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, the sound of birds, especially cranes, is often romanticized, symbolizing longevity and beauty. The character 嘹 captures this cultural appreciation for the aesthetic quality of sound in nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clear, melodious bell ringing in a tranquil setting. The character 嘹 looks like a bell (口) surrounded by sound waves (夭), emphasizing its meaning of clear sound. Visualize a soprano singing beautifully, and remember 'liáo' as the sound that fills the air.

Meanings of 嘹

liáo(liao2)
1a clear sound, such as a bell or a soprano; resonant
2clear sound
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嘹

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嘹

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 嘹

Quick Contrast

鸣 (míng) vs 嘹 (liáo): Use 嘹 for clarity and brightness in sound, while鸣 focuses on the act of chirping or calling.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a clear, melodious bell ringing in a tranquil setting. The character 嘹 looks like a bell (口) surrounded by sound waves (夭), emphasizing its meaning of clear sound. Visualize a soprano singing beautifully, and remember 'liáo' as the sound that fills the air.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 嘹 with similar-sounding characters like 了 (le) or 料 (liào), which have different meanings. Use 嘹 primarily in literary or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be mindful of its tone; ensure you pronounce it with the rising tone, as mispronunciation can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in the HSK levels, 嘹 is related to HSK vocabulary about sounds and music. Students should focus on the tonal pronunciation and contextual usage in poetry or literature, connecting it to words like 清 (qīng) for clarity or 声音 (shēngyīn) for sound.

Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, the sound of birds, especially cranes, is often romanticized, symbolizing longevity and beauty. The character 嘹 captures this cultural appreciation for the aesthetic quality of sound in nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 嘹 to describe vague or unclear sounds, which is incorrect. For example, saying 嘹 to describe a loud noise is wrong; instead, use 大声 (dàshēng) for loudness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嘹

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 嘹

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

Decomposition of 嘹

IDS Structure⿰口尞
Full Character
=
kou3
left
liao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嘹?

Write 嘹

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 嘹

嘹 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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他的声音在这空荡荡的房间里听起来异常____亮。

His voice sounded oddly resonant in the empty room.

Example Sentences for 嘹 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他的声音在这空荡荡的房间里听起来异常嘹亮。

tā de shēng yīn zài zhè kōng dàng dàng de fáng jiān lǐ tīng qǐ lái yì cháng liáo liàng。

His voice sounded oddly resonant in the empty room.

Cultural Notes for 嘹

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese poetry, the sound of birds, especially cranes, is often romanticized, symbolizing longevity and beauty. The character 嘹 captures this cultural appreciation for the aesthetic quality of sound in nature.

Word Family of 嘹

Words Containing This Character2
嘹亮resonant
liáoclear sound
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 嘹亮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嘹

嘹 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it is more often found in poetry or literature to describe beautiful sounds.