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淆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
淆xiáoconfused, mixed up, in disarrayzg, 11 strokes, radical 氵, Hard
淆xiáomixedunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, Hard
淆xiáoTaiwan pr. [yao2]unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, Hard
xiáo(xiao2)xiao T2
  1. 1confused, mixed up, in disarray
  2. 2mixed
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March 24, 2026

淆(殽)xiáo(xiao2)

The character 淆 (xiáo) conveys the meaning of being confused or mixed up. It is often used in contexts where things are in disarray or where clarity is lacking, such as in thoughts or situations. Its usage can also imply a blending of elements that results in a lack of distinction.

Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#3180DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and philosophy, the concept of confusion and mixing is often explored in the context of clarity and enlightenment, reflecting the importance of understanding one's thoughts and surroundings. The character 淆 embodies this idea of seeking clarity amidst chaos.

Memory Tip

Imagine a swirling mix of colors in a painter's palette, representing confusion and disarray. The character 淆 has water (氵) on the left, suggesting fluidity and mixing, while the right side indicates a blend of different elements. Picture a painter who can't decide which colors to use, leading to a chaotic mix – that's the essence of 淆 (xiáo).

Meanings of 淆

xiáo(xiao2)
1confused, mixed up, in disarray
2mixed
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 淆

淆Simplified
殽Traditional
11Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 淆

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Podcast: 淆

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AI Study Notes for 淆

Quick Contrast

混 (hùn) — use 淆 when emphasizing confusion or lack of clarity, while 混 suggests mixing or blending without necessarily implying confusion.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 淆 with similar-sounding characters like 笑 (xiào), which means 'to laugh'. It's important to use the correct tone and context; 淆 is more formal and typically used in written language. Common collocations include 淆乱 (xiáoluàn, confused) and 淆杂 (xiáozá, mixed).

HSK Study Tips

While 淆 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners grasp more complex characters that describe disarray or confusion. Students should focus on recognizing its components and practicing its pronunciation to avoid mixing it with other similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes write 淆 as 笑 (xiào) due to the similar pronunciation, leading to a completely different meaning. Always remember that 淆 relates to confusion, while 笑 means to laugh.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 淆

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Etymology of 淆

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

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)肴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

淆 = 氵 + 肴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 淆

IDS Structure⿰氵肴
淆Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
肴yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 淆?

How to say confused, mixed up, in disarray in Chinese

“confused, mixed up, in disarray” in Chinese is淆xiáo

The character 淆 (xiáo) conveys the meaning of being confused or mixed up. It is often used in contexts where things are in disarray or where clarity is lacking, such as in thoughts or situations. Its usage can also imply a blending of elements that results in a lack of distinction.

When to use 淆

Learners often confuse 淆 with similar-sounding characters like 笑 (xiào), which means 'to laugh'. It's important to use the correct tone and context; 淆 is more formal and typically used in written language. Common collocations include 淆乱 (xiáoluàn, confused) and 淆杂 (xiáozá, mixed).

淆 or something close to it

混 (hùn) — use 淆 when emphasizing confusion or lack of clarity, while 混 suggests mixing or blending without necessarily implying confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes write 淆 as 笑 (xiào) due to the similar pronunciation, leading to a completely different meaning. Always remember that 淆 relates to confusion, while 笑 means to laugh.

Write 淆

淆

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

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Grammar Patterns of 淆

淆 carries 3 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 2

Fill the gap

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

我们开始混____皇室大家庭和君主制这两个概念了。

We are beginning to muddle the extended royal family and the monarchy.

Example Sentences for 淆 (2)

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1
我们开始混淆皇室大家庭和君主制这两个概念了。

wǒ mén kāi shǐ hùn xiáo huáng shì dà jiā tíng hé jūn zhǔ zhì zhè liǎng gè gài niàn le。

We are beginning to muddle the extended royal family and the monarchy.
2
公司犯罪不应与 白领 犯罪混淆, 后者指的是犯罪者的职业,其罪行可能是针对企业的.

gōng sī fàn zuì bù yīng yǔ bái lǐng fàn zuì, hùn xiáo , hòu zhě zhǐ de shì fàn zuì zhě, de zhí yè , qí zuì háng kě néng shì zhēn.

Corporate crime — committed by businesses — should not be confused with white - collar crime, which refers to the occupation of the perpetrator and may be directed against ...

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Word Family of 淆

Words Containing This Character6
混淆hùnxiáoto obscure
混淆视听to obscure the facts (idiom); to mislead the public with prevarication and deliberate falsehoods混淆視聽
混淆是非to confuse right and wrong (idiom)
淆xiáomixed
混淆黑白to confuse black and white
淆乱to confuse淆亂
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 淆

What does 混淆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 淆

The correct pronunciation is xiáo, with the second tone.

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