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拷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拷kǎoto torture, to interrogate; to beat, to flogzg, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #10281, Very Hard
拷kǎoto examine under tortureunknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #10281, Very Hard
kǎo(kao3)kao T3
  1. 1to torture, to interrogate; to beat, to flog
  2. 2to examine under torture
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March 24, 2026

拷kǎo(kao3)

The character 拷 (kǎo) refers to the act of torturing or interrogating someone, often through physical means such as beating or flogging. It is commonly used in contexts related to law enforcement or military situations where coercive methods may be employed to extract information.

Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#10281DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese history, torture and interrogation methods were often used during dynastic rule, which has left a mark on literature and drama, portraying the moral implications of such practices. The concept of 拷 reflects historical tensions between authority and justice.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'k' in the shape of a hand holding a 'flogging' tool, and the character's upper part resembles a person being restrained. The sound 'kǎo' can be remembered by thinking of someone 'coughing' in pain during an interrogation.

Meanings of 拷

kǎo(kao3)
1to torture, to interrogate; to beat, to flog
2to examine under torture
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 拷

拷Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 拷

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Podcast: 拷

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AI study notes for 拷

Quick Contrast

拷 (kǎo) vs 逼 (bī) — use 拷 when emphasizing physical torture or interrogation methods, while 逼 refers more generally to coercion or pressure.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 拷 (kǎo) with related characters like 打 (dǎ), which simply means to hit. This word is more formal and context-specific, often used in serious discussions about law, justice, or historical contexts. Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 拷 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to law and history. Focus on its connections to other related terms like 拷问 (kǎowèn, to interrogate) and see how it fits into discussions about justice or punishment.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 拷 (kǎo) with 打 (dǎ), leading to incorrect usage in contexts discussing punishment. For instance, saying '我会打他' (wǒ huì dǎ tā - I will hit him) instead of '我会拷问他' (wǒ huì kǎowèn tā - I will interrogate him) misses the nuance of coercive interrogation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拷

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Etymology of 拷

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

To question 考 by hand 扌; 考 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 拷?

Decomposition of 拷

IDS Structure⿰扌考
拷Full character
=
扌shou3
left
考kao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 拷?

How to say to torture, to interrogate; to beat, to flog in Chinese

“to torture, to interrogate; to beat, to flog” in Chinese is拷kǎo

The character 拷 (kǎo) refers to the act of torturing or interrogating someone, often through physical means such as beating or flogging. It is commonly used in contexts related to law enforcement or military situations where coercive methods may be employed to extract information.

When to use 拷

Common mistakes include confusing 拷 (kǎo) with related characters like 打 (dǎ), which simply means to hit. This word is more formal and context-specific, often used in serious discussions about law, justice, or historical contexts. Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

拷 or something close to it

拷 (kǎo) vs 逼 (bī) — use 拷 when emphasizing physical torture or interrogation methods, while 逼 refers more generally to coercion or pressure.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 拷 (kǎo) with 打 (dǎ), leading to incorrect usage in contexts discussing punishment. For instance, saying '我会打他' (wǒ huì dǎ tā - I will hit him) instead of '我会拷问他' (wǒ huì kǎowèn tā - I will interrogate him) misses the nuance of coercive interrogation.

Write 拷

拷

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

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Grammar patterns of 拷

拷 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

1957年首次上映后,这部影片现在有了新的____贝。

First released in 1957, the movie now appears in a new print.

Example sentences for 拷 (4)

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1
1957年首次上映后,这部影片现在有了新的拷贝。

1957 nián shǒucì shàngyìng hòu, zhè bù yǐngpiàn xiànzài yǒu le xīn de kǎo bèi。

First released in 1957, the movie now appears in a new print.
2
宗教法庭对西面里人不分贫富,统统严刑拷打.

zōngjiào fǎtíng duì xī miàn lǐ rén bù fēn pínfù, tǒngtǒng yán xíng kǎo dǎ.

The Inquisition had tortured rich and poor alike.
3
一双拷花皮鞋

yī shuāng kǎo huā píxié

a pair of brogues
4
不要使用位元影像的方法(如磁带机)备份,因为这样会将病毒一起拷贝下来。

búyào shǐyòng wèi yuán yǐngxiàng de fāngfǎ( rú cídài Jī) bèifèn, yīnwèi zhèyàng huì jiāng bìngdú yìqǐ kǎo bèi xiàlái。

Do not use a bit-image method of backup (like a tape streamer), because this will copy the virus.

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Word Family of 拷

Words containing this character4
拷贝copy拷貝
拷kǎoto beat
拷问to question via torture拷問
拷打to torture
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 拷

What does 拷贝 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 拷

The tone is third tone (kǎo), which means it dips down and then rises.

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