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矫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矫jiǎosurname Jiaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoto correct, to rectify, to straighten outnr, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoargumentativeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎocontentiousunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoto redressunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎostrongunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎobraveunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoto pretendunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoto feignunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiǎoaffectationunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáosurname Jiaounknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoto correct, to rectify, to straighten outnr, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoargumentativeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáocontentiousunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoto redressunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáostrongunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáobraveunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoto pretendunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoto feignunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
矫jiáoaffectationunknown, 11 strokes, radical 矢, rank #21324, Very Hard
jiáo(jiao2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1surname Jiao
  2. 2to correct, to rectify, to straighten out
Also a Chinese surname, Jiao — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

矫(矯)jiáo(jiao2)

The character 矫 (jiáo) primarily means 'to correct' or 'to rectify,' often used in contexts where something is being straightened out or improved. It can also imply a sense of argumentativeness or contention, and it carries connotations of bravery or strength, often reflecting a bold personality. Additionally, it is a surname in Chinese culture.

Strokes11Radical矢Frequency#21324DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of correcting or rectifying is significant, especially in contexts like education and governance, where correcting mistakes is seen as vital for personal and societal improvement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a brave archer (矢) correcting his aim (矫) to hit the bullseye. The character’s form combines a radical for stone (石) with the character for a bow (弓), signifying the strong and precise action of correcting one's aim, much like adjusting a bowstring.

Meanings of 矫

jiáo(jiao2)
primary
1to correct, to rectify, to straighten out
2argumentative
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 矫

矫Simplified
矯Traditional
11Strokes
矢Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矫

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Podcast: 矫

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 矫

Quick Contrast

矫 (jiáo) vs 扭 (niǔ) — use 矫 for correction or rectification, while 扭 emphasizes twisting or turning.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely. 矫 is more formal and is often used in literary or academic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 矫正 (to correct) and 矫揉造作 (to be affected or pretentious).

HSK Study Tips

Although 矫 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK 4-5 level words like 改变 (to change) and 纠正 (to rectify). Students should focus on the different contexts in which 矫 can be used, particularly in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矫 with similar-sounding words like 角 (jiǎo, angle) or 叫 (jiào, to shout). For example, saying 矫音 (jiáo yīn) instead of the correct term for 'correct pronunciation' can lead to confusion. Always ensure the proper context and tone are applied.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矫

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Etymology of 矫

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

Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 乔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 矯.

Memory Hint

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Semantic (meaning)矢
+
Phonetic (sound)乔
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 矫

Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 乔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 矯.

  1. 1The meaning half矢 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half乔 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayarrow
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 矫? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 矫?

Decomposition of 矫

IDS Structure⿰矢乔
矫Full Character
=
矢shi3
left
乔Qiao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 矫?

How to say surname Jiao in Chinese

“surname Jiao” in Chinese is矫jiǎo

The character 矫 (jiáo) primarily means 'to correct' or 'to rectify,' often used in contexts where something is being straightened out or improved. It can also imply a sense of argumentativeness or contention, and it carries connotations of bravery or strength, often reflecting a bold personality. Additionally, it is a surname in Chinese culture.

When to use 矫

Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely. 矫 is more formal and is often used in literary or academic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 矫正 (to correct) and 矫揉造作 (to be affected or pretentious).

矫 or something close to it

矫 (jiáo) vs 扭 (niǔ) — use 矫 for correction or rectification, while 扭 emphasizes twisting or turning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矫 with similar-sounding words like 角 (jiǎo, angle) or 叫 (jiào, to shout). For example, saying 矫音 (jiáo yīn) instead of the correct term for 'correct pronunciation' can lead to confusion. Always ensure the proper context and tone are applied.

Write 矫

矫

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 矫

矫 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 10 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 4

Complete the Sentence

他的头骨做过大面积的____形手术。

He has received extensive corrective surgery to his skull.

Example Sentences for 矫 (7)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他的头骨做过大面积的矫形手术。

tā de tóu gǔ zuò guò dà miàn jī de jiǎo xíng shǒu shù。

He has received extensive corrective surgery to his skull.
2
劳森写得很好：英文通俗易懂，朴实无华又不矫揉造作。

láo sēn xiě dé hěn hǎo： ： yīng wén tōng sú yì， dǒng ， pǔ shí wú huá yòu bù jiǎo róu。

Lawson writes so well: in plain English, without fuss or affectation.
3
她那矫揉造作的腔调使我感到难受。

tā nà jiǎo róu zào zuò de qiāng tiáo shǐ wǒ gǎn dào nán shòu。

Her genteel accent irritated me.
4
这个节目看起来矫揉造作，而其中的人物还自我感觉良好。

zhè gè jié mù kàn qǐ lái jiǎo róu zào zuò， ， ér qí zhōng de rén wù huán zì wǒ gǎn jué liáng。

The programme seemed false and sugary, and the characters smug.
5
这本小册子只谈事实，绝无矫饰。

zhè běn xiǎo cè zǐ zhī tán shì shí， ， jué wú jiǎo。

This booklet restricts itself to facts without frills.
6
矫健的自行车手们纷纷骑车冲出起跑门，突然苏格兰选手的左脚咔嗒一声踩空了踏板，观众不禁倒抽了一口冷气。

jiǎo jiàn de zì háng chē shǒu mén fēn fēn qí chē chōng chū qǐ pǎo mén， ， tū rán sū gé lán xuǎn shǒu de zuǒ jiǎo kǎ tà yī shēng cǎi kōng le tà， bǎn ， guān zhòng bù jīn dǎo chōu le yī kǒu。

As the gladiators rolled away from the starting gates, a gasp went up when the Scottish cyclist's left foot clicked out of the pedal.
7
英国的电视广告光艳浮华，矫揉造作。

yīng guó de diàn shì guǎng gào guāng yàn fú huá， ， jiǎo róu zào。

British TV commercials are glossy and sophisticated.

Word Family of 矫

Words Containing This Character10
矫正jiǎozhèngto correct矯正
矫jiáoto correct矯
矫情affected矯情
矫健vigorous矯健
矫形orthopedic (e.g. surgery)矯形
矫揉造作pretension矯揉造作
矫治to rectify矯治
矫枉过正to overcorrect (idiom)矯枉過正
矫捷athletic矯捷
矫枉过直to overcorrect (idiom)矯枉過直
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 矫正 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 矫

While both mean 'to correct,' 矫 often implies a more significant or bold correction, whereas 纠正 is more straightforward and commonly used in everyday contexts.

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