unknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #71723, Very Hard
tiào(tiao4) T4
1to gaze, to look at; to scan, to survey
2to gaze into the distance
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March 24, 2026
眺tiào(tiao4)
The character 眺 (tiào) means to gaze or look at something, often with a sense of surveying or scanning the horizon. It is commonly used in contexts where one is observing something from a distance, such as a scenic view or an expansive landscape.
Strokes11Radical目Frequency#71723DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, gazing at distant beauty is celebrated in poetry and art, symbolizing a connection to nature and the vastness of the world. The act of 眺 often appears in classical literature, highlighting appreciation for landscapes.
Memory Tip
Imagine standing on a tall hill, gazing out over a beautiful landscape. The character 眺 combines the radicals for 'eye' (目) and 'to look' (昭), suggesting the act of looking far and wide with your eyes. Think of 'tiào' as 'tiara' on your head while you gaze majestically over the scenery.
Meanings of 眺
tiào(tiao4)
1to gaze, to look at; to scan, to survey
2to gaze into the distance
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 眺
眺Simplified
11Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 眺
Podcast: 眺
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AI Study Notes for 眺
Quick Contrast
眺 (tiào) vs 看 (kàn) — use 眺 when emphasizing distant observation or surveying, while 看 is more general for looking at something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine standing on a tall hill, gazing out over a beautiful landscape. The character 眺 combines the radicals for 'eye' (目) and 'to look' (昭), suggesting the act of looking far and wide with your eyes. Think of 'tiào' as 'tiara' on your head while you gaze majestically over the scenery.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 眺 with similar verbs like 看 (kàn) meaning 'to look' or 'to see.' Use 眺 when specifically referring to looking into the distance or surveying a view. It's more poetic and less common in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Though 眺 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with words related to vision and observation found in lower levels. Focus on its use in descriptive contexts, especially when discussing nature or scenery.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, gazing at distant beauty is celebrated in poetry and art, symbolizing a connection to nature and the vastness of the world. The act of 眺 often appears in classical literature, highlighting appreciation for landscapes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 眺 in contexts where 看 would be more appropriate, such as using 眺 to mean 'to watch a movie' instead of 看电影 (kàn diànyǐng). Remember that 眺 is for distant gazing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 眺
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Grammar Patterns of 眺
眺 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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 1
Complete the Sentence
他正隔着湖面,透过几株稀疏的椰子树,____望着“娶西瓦 ” 号的船帆.
He was looking across the lagoon to where the Nuhiva's sails showed through the sparse coconuts.
He was looking across the lagoon to where the Nuhiva's sails showed through the sparse coconuts.
Cultural Notes for 眺
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, gazing at distant beauty is celebrated in poetry and art, symbolizing a connection to nature and the vastness of the world. The act of 眺 often appears in classical literature, highlighting appreciation for landscapes.
Word Family of 眺
Words Containing This Character5
眺望to survey the scene from an elevated position
远眺to gaze into the distance遠眺
眺tiàoto gaze into the distance
凭眺to lean on sth and gaze into the distance憑眺
临眺to observe from afar臨眺
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 眺望 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 眺
You can say 眺望山脉 (tiàowàng shānmài) which means 'gazing at the mountains.'
It is less common in everyday speech and is often found in literature or formal writing.
眺 specifically emphasizes looking into the distance, while 看 is a more general term for seeing or looking.
