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瓢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瓢piáoa ladle made from a dried gourdn, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
瓢piáodipperunknown, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
瓢piáoladleunknown, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
piáo(piao2)piao T2
  1. 1a ladle made from a dried gourd
  2. 2dipper
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March 24, 2026

瓢piáo(piao2)

The character 瓢 (piáo) refers to a type of ladle or dipper traditionally made from a dried gourd. It is commonly used in cooking and serving liquids, such as soups or sauces, and is a practical tool in both historical and modern Chinese kitchens.

Strokes16Radical瓜Frequency#32201DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, using a gourd as a ladle reflects resourcefulness and a connection to nature, as many household items were made from natural materials. This practice ties into the broader cultural appreciation for sustainability.

Memory tip

Imagine a gourd (the shape of 瓢) being hollowed out to create a ladle. The top part of the character resembles the curve of a ladle, while the bottom suggests its handle. Picture yourself using this gourd ladle to serve soup, and remember the sound 'piáo' as you pour.

Meanings of 瓢

piáo(piao2)
1a ladle made from a dried gourd
2dipper
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 瓢

瓢Simplified
16Strokes
瓜Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瓢

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Podcast: 瓢

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AI study notes for 瓢

Usage Notes

When using 瓢 in conversation, be mindful that it can sound informal, so it’s best suited for everyday contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 勺 (sháo), which means 'spoon'. Ensure you use the correct word based on the utensil you’re referring to.

HSK Study Tips

While 瓢 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it can be relevant for learners interested in cooking-related terms. Students should focus on related utensils like 勺 (sháo) and 叉 (chā), which are also common in kitchen discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 瓢 as 'piǎo' instead of the correct 'piáo'. Additionally, some confuse it with 勺 (sháo), leading to incorrect usage in context; always clarify whether you're referring to a ladle or a spoon.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瓢

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Etymology of 瓢

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 瓜 represents the meaning and 票 represents the sound.

Memory hint

gourd

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

Origin

瓢 = 瓜 + 票. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 瓢

IDS Structure⿰票瓜
瓢Full character
=
票piao4
left
瓜gua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 瓢?

How to say a ladle made from a dried gourd in Chinese

“a ladle made from a dried gourd” in Chinese is瓢piáo

The character 瓢 (piáo) refers to a type of ladle or dipper traditionally made from a dried gourd. It is commonly used in cooking and serving liquids, such as soups or sauces, and is a practical tool in both historical and modern Chinese kitchens.

When to use 瓢

When using 瓢 in conversation, be mindful that it can sound informal, so it’s best suited for everyday contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 勺 (sháo), which means 'spoon'. Ensure you use the correct word based on the utensil you’re referring to.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 瓢 as 'piǎo' instead of the correct 'piáo'. Additionally, some confuse it with 勺 (sháo), leading to incorrect usage in context; always clarify whether you're referring to a ladle or a spoon.

Write 瓢

瓢

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

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Grammar patterns of 瓢

瓢 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.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

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

下了一上午的____泼大雨, 后来才转晴.

It poured all morning, but turned fine later.

Example sentences for 瓢 (4)

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1
下了一上午的瓢泼大雨, 后来才转晴.

xià le yī shàngwǔ de piáo pō dà yǔ, hòulái cái zhuǎi qíng.

It poured all morning, but turned fine later.
2
昨晚还下着瓢泼大雨, 但是早晨就变晴了.

zuó wǎn hái xià zhe piáo pō dà yǔ, dànshì zǎochen jiù biàn qíng le.

It rained and dogs night, but cleared up in the morning.
3
汤姆奚落了他一番,给他兜头泼了瓢冷水.

shāng mǔ xīluò le tā yīfān, gěi tā dōu tóu pō le piáo lěngshuǐ.

Tom withered him with derision!
4
甚至秃光瓢也太红了一些.

shènzhì tū guāng piáo yě tài hóng le yìxiē.

Even the bald scalp was too deep a pink.

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Word Family of 瓢

Words containing this character6
瓢piáodipper
瓢虫ladybug瓢蟲
瓢泼大雨downpour (idiom)瓢潑大雨
照葫芦画瓢fig. to copy slavishly照葫蘆畫瓢
瓢泼(of rain) pouring瓢潑
按下葫芦浮起瓢solve one problem only to find another cropping up按下葫蘆浮起瓢
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 瓢

What does 瓢虫 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 瓢

瓢 refers specifically to a ladle made from a gourd, while 勺 is a general term for a spoon.

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