unknown, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #88836, Very Hard
潇
xiāo
(of wind and rain) howling and pounding
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #88836, Very Hard
潇
xiāo
(of light rain) pattering
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #88836, Very Hard
xiāo(xiao1) T1
1river name
2sound of rain and wind
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March 24, 2026
潇(瀟)xiāo(xiao1)
The character 潇 (xiāo) primarily refers to the sound of rain and wind, often evoking feelings of tranquility and nature's beauty. It can also describe the deep and clear quality of water or the pounding sounds produced by heavy rain and wind. This character is commonly used in poetry and literature to create vivid imagery associated with natural elements.
Strokes14Radical氵Frequency#88836DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
潇 is often associated with traditional Chinese poetry, where it is used to evoke the beauty of nature and the emotions connected to it. The character appears in famous works that celebrate the aesthetics of landscapes and the sounds of natural elements.
Memory Tip
Imagine a clear river (the water element in 潇) that flows gently, creating a soft sound as it dances over stones. Picture the wind howling, rustling through trees and creating a symphony of rain sounds. The character has a water radical 氵 on the left, indicating its connection to water, while the right part 逍 suggests freedom and movement, linking to the sounds of nature.
Meanings of 潇
xiāo(xiao1)
1river name
2sound of rain and wind
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 潇
潇Simplified
瀟Traditional
14Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 潇
Podcast: 潇
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AI Study Notes for 潇
Quick Contrast
清 (qīng) - use 潇 when emphasizing the sound and tranquility of nature, while 清 focuses on clarity and purity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a clear river (the water element in 潇) that flows gently, creating a soft sound as it dances over stones. Picture the wind howling, rustling through trees and creating a symphony of rain sounds. The character has a water radical 氵 on the left, indicating its connection to water, while the right part 逍 suggests freedom and movement, linking to the sounds of nature.
Usage Notes
When using 潇, be mindful of its poetic context; it's usually not used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 潇洒 (xiāosǎ, carefree or unrestrained), which may confuse learners. Additionally, ensure correct tone usage, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
While 潇 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares themes with words related to nature and sound, such as 雨 (yǔ, rain) and 风 (fēng, wind). Students should focus on the character's components and use it in creative writing to deepen their understanding of descriptive language.
Cultural Note
潇 is often associated with traditional Chinese poetry, where it is used to evoke the beauty of nature and the emotions connected to it. The character appears in famous works that celebrate the aesthetics of landscapes and the sounds of natural elements.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 潇 with similar-sounding characters, such as 消 (xiāo), leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '消雨' instead of '潇雨' mistakenly suggests eliminating rain rather than describing its beauty.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 潇
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Grammar Patterns of 潇
潇 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 6 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 5
Complete the Sentence
他们的作品一如既往地引人入胜、气韵____洒、新颖别致，不会让你失望。
Their work has all the usual punch, panache and flair you'dexpect.
Example Sentences for 潇 (5)
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1
他们的作品一如既往地引人入胜、气韵潇洒、新颖别致，不会让你失望。
tā mén de zuò pǐn yī rú jì wǎng dì yǐn rén rù shèng、 、 qì yùn xiāo、 sǎ 、 xīn yǐng， bié zhì ， bù huì ràng。
Their work has all the usual punch, panache and flair you'dexpect.
A black coat always looks smart and will never date.
3
两名结伴旅行的优雅苏格兰男子就餐时穿了潇洒的苏格兰方格呢短裙。
liǎng míng jié bàn lǚ háng de yōu yǎ sū gé lán nán zǐ jiù cān shí chuān le xiāo sǎ de sū gé lán fāng gé ne duǎn qún。
Two elegant Scotsmen travelling together wore dashing kilts at dinner.
4
王子潇洒威猛地驱车而行。
wáng zǐ xiāo sǎ wēi měng dì qū chē ér háng。
The Prince was driving with great fire and dash.
5
也许陆子潇逢人告诉我怎样看中他呢!
yě xǔ lù zǐ xiāo féng rén gào sù wǒ zěn yàng kàn zhōng tā ne!
Lu Tzu - hsiao is probably going around telling everybody how crazy I was about him!
Cultural Notes for 潇
🏮Cultural insight
潇 is often associated with traditional Chinese poetry, where it is used to evoke the beauty of nature and the emotions connected to it. The character appears in famous works that celebrate the aesthetics of landscapes and the sounds of natural elements.
Word Family of 潇
Words Containing This Character3
潇洒xiāosǎfree and easy瀟灑
潇湘other name of the Xiangjiang river 湘江[Xiāngjiāng] in Hunan province瀟湘
潇xiāo(of water) deep and clear瀟
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 潇洒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 潇
潇 is pronounced as 'xiāo' with the first tone, which is high and level.
While it can be used, 潇 is more commonly found in literary contexts rather than in daily speech.
Yes, characters like 小 (xiǎo, small) and 消 (xiāo, to eliminate) sound similar but have different meanings.
