Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
翹qiào(qiao4)
The character 翹 (qiào) primarily means to elevate or raise something, often in a physical sense, such as lifting an object or a part of the body. It can also imply being outstanding or exceptional in a figurative context, such as a person standing out due to their skills or attributes.
Strokes18Radical羽Frequency#59327DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 'outstanding' or 'exceptional' is highly valued, often reflected in educational and professional settings where individuals strive to 'stand out' from their peers.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bird (the radical 翅, which means 'wing') soaring high in the sky, lifting itself above everything else. The sound 'qiào' can be remembered by thinking of a 'crow' (phonetically similar) that is raising its wings while flying.
Meanings of 翹
qiào(qiao4)
1outstanding; to elevate, to lift, to raise
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 翹
翹Simplified
18Strokes
羽Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翹
Podcast: 翹
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 翹
Quick Contrast
翘 (qiào) vs 提 (tí) — use 翘 when referring to raising or elevating something in a physical sense, while 提 is more about lifting or carrying something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bird (the radical 翅, which means 'wing') soaring high in the sky, lifting itself above everything else. The sound 'qiào' can be remembered by thinking of a 'crow' (phonetically similar) that is raising its wings while flying.
Usage Notes
While 翹 usually describes a physical action of raising or elevating, it can also be used in more abstract contexts, such as 'standing out' in a group. Be mindful of using it correctly in both informal and formal settings, as it can sound too casual if used inappropriately.
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK level word, understanding 翹 can help learners connect with other words related to elevation or distinction, such as 高 (gāo) for 'high' or 出众 (chūzhòng) for 'outstanding'. Focus on its usage in contexts where elevation is both literal and metaphorical.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 'outstanding' or 'exceptional' is highly valued, often reflected in educational and professional settings where individuals strive to 'stand out' from their peers.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翹 with similar-sounding words like 笑 (xiào, to laugh), leading to incorrect phrases such as 翹笑 (qiàoxiào). The correct usage would be to use 翹 in contexts related to elevation or distinction.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翹
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 翹 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 翹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 翹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 'outstanding' or 'exceptional' is highly valued, often reflected in educational and professional settings where individuals strive to 'stand out' from their peers.
Word Family of 翹
Words Containing This Character15
翘qiàoto stick up翹
翘首to raise one's head and look around (esp. at the state of the nation)翹首
连翘Forsythia連翹
翘首以待to anxiously await翹首以待
翘翘板see-saw翹翹板
翘尾巴to be cocky翹尾巴
翘辫子(coll.) to die翹辮子
翘板a see-saw翹板
翘舌音retroflex sound (e.g. in Mandarin zh, ch, sh, r)翹舌音
翘盼to long for翹盼
翘望to long for翹望
林家翘Lin Chia-Chiao (1916-2013), Chinese-American physicist, astronomer and applied mathematician林家翹
翘足lit. on tiptoes翹足
翘足而待to expect in a short time (idiom)翹足而待
翘企to long for翹企
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 翘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 翹
Common phrases include 翹起 (qiàoqǐ), meaning 'to lift up', and 翹翹板 (qiàoqiàobǎn), referring to a seesaw.
Yes, 翹 can describe someone who stands out or excels in a particular field.
