Meanings of 寥
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Podcast: 寥
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AI Study Notes for 寥
稀 (xī) - use 寥 when emphasizing scarcity or emptiness, while 稀 often refers to thinness or rarity in a more general sense; 罕见 (hǎnjiàn) - choose 寥 for a sense of loneliness or desolation, whereas 罕见 emphasizes something being rare or uncommon.
Be careful not to confuse 寥 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This character is often used in literary contexts or formal writing rather than everyday conversation, so it's important to practice using it in appropriate settings. Common collocations include 寥寥无几 (liáoliáowújǐ), meaning 'very few' or 'scarcely any.'
Although 寥 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of expressive language at higher levels. Focus on recognizing it in literary texts or advanced conversations where nuanced expressions are used.
Learners often confuse 寥 with the character 了 (le), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '他寥去商店' (tā liáo qù shāngdiàn) instead of '他去商店' (tā qù shāngdiàn) is incorrect; the former suggests an inappropriate meaning.
Pronunciation of 寥
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Jason Explains 寥 to You
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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.
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Etymology of 寥
roof
Origin
寥 = 宀 + 翏. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 寥
Parts
Which of these is part of 寥?
How to say few, scarce; empty, deserted in Chinese
“few, scarce; empty, deserted” in Chinese is寥
The character 寥 (liáo) conveys the idea of 'few' or 'scarce', often used to describe something that is empty or lacking in quantity. It can also express a sense of loneliness or desolation in certain contexts, making it applicable in both literal and figurative language.
When to use 寥
Be careful not to confuse 寥 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This character is often used in literary contexts or formal writing rather than everyday conversation, so it's important to practice using it in appropriate settings. Common collocations include 寥寥无几 (liáoliáowújǐ), meaning 'very few' or 'scarcely any.'
寥 or something close to it
稀 (xī) - use 寥 when emphasizing scarcity or emptiness, while 稀 often refers to thinness or rarity in a more general sense; 罕见 (hǎnjiàn) - choose 寥 for a sense of loneliness or desolation, whereas 罕见 emphasizes something being rare or uncommon.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寥 with the character 了 (le), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '他寥去商店' (tā liáo qù shāngdiàn) instead of '他去商店' (tā qù shāngdiàn) is incorrect; the former suggests an inappropriate meaning.
Write 寥
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Practice writing 寥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 寥
寥 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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
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总体看来,这所大学评估教育质量的方法____寥无几.
The college has few ways to assess the quality of education overall.
Example Sentences for 寥 (3)
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Word Family of 寥
Words with 寥
What does 寥寥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寥
You can use 寥 in a sentence like: '这里的人寥寥无几' (zhèlǐ de rén liáoliáowújǐ), meaning 'There are very few people here.'
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