Meanings of 拗
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About 拗
Podcast: 拗
Podcast: 拗
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AI Study Notes for 拗
拗 (ǎo) vs 倔 (juè) — use 拗 for physical pulling or bending, while 倔 emphasizes stubbornness in attitude.
Imagine a stubborn mule (which sounds like 'ǎo') pulling against a cart, making it difficult to drag forward. The character 拗 has a radical for hand (扌) indicating action, combined with '牛' (niú, cow) suggesting the obstinacy of a bull, making it easier to remember its meaning of pulling or being obstinate.
This character is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's stubbornness. Learners should be cautious with tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. A common collocation is 拗口 (ǎokǒu), which means to be hard to say. Avoid confusing 拗 (ǎo) with the similar sounding 拗 (ào), which has a different meaning.
Although 拗 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 vocabulary related to personality traits and actions. Students should focus on differentiating between the tones and understanding its uses in describing behavior.
In Chinese culture, stubbornness is often viewed with mixed feelings; while it can be seen as a negative trait, it can also be admired in the context of perseverance and determination. The character may be used in discussions about traditional values of resilience.
Learners often confuse 拗 (ǎo) with its variant pronunciation 拗 (ào), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember to use the correct tone depending on the intended meaning.
Pronunciation of 拗
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Etymology of 拗
hand
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 拗?
Decomposition of 拗
Identify the Components
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Write 拗
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Practice writing 拗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 拗
拗 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 5 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
它读起来很____口。
It reads very awkwardly.
Example Sentences for 拗 (3)
Reorder the Sentence
It reads very awkwardly.
Cultural Notes for 拗
In Chinese culture, stubbornness is often viewed with mixed feelings; while it can be seen as a negative trait, it can also be admired in the context of perseverance and determination. The character may be used in discussions about traditional values of resilience.
Word Family of 拗
Compound Meaning
What does 拗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拗
The difference lies in their tones and meanings; 拗 (ǎo) relates to being obstinate or pulling, while 拗 (ào) is a variant that can imply disobedience.