unknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #91865, Very Hard
yáo(yao2) T2
1cooked or prepared meat
2mixed viands
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March 24, 2026
肴(殽)yáo(yao2)
肴 (yáo) refers to prepared or cooked meat, typically served as part of a meal. It can also denote mixed dishes or viands, showcasing the variety of food in Chinese cuisine. This character is often associated with the concept of flavorful and well-prepared dishes in culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#91865DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is a significant aspect of social gatherings and celebrations. The term 肴 emphasizes the importance of carefully prepared dishes, which often play a central role in family banquets and festivals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef (the radical 肉, meaning 'meat') expertly preparing a feast. The character 肴 looks like the chef is holding a plate of delicious cooked meat, and 'yáo' sounds like 'yowl,' which you might do when you smell something irresistibly good cooking.
Meanings of 肴
yáo(yao2)
1cooked or prepared meat
2mixed viands
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 肴
肴Simplified
殽Traditional
8Strokes
⺼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肴
Podcast: 肴
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AI Study Notes for 肴
Quick Contrast
肉 (ròu, meat) vs 菜 (cài, vegetables) — choose 肴 when referring specifically to prepared meat dishes, while 肴 encompasses a broader range of mixed or cooked foods.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef (the radical 肉, meaning 'meat') expertly preparing a feast. The character 肴 looks like the chef is holding a plate of delicious cooked meat, and 'yáo' sounds like 'yowl,' which you might do when you smell something irresistibly good cooking.
Usage Notes
肴 is more commonly used in written language or formal contexts, particularly in culinary descriptions. Common collocations include 肴菜 (yáo cài), meaning 'prepared dishes.' Be mindful of the tone, as the character is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 肴 is not included in the HSK levels, students at HSK 4 and above will benefit from understanding food-related vocabulary. Focus on the context of meals and cooking when learning this character, as it enriches conversational skills in dining situations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is a significant aspect of social gatherings and celebrations. The term 肴 emphasizes the importance of carefully prepared dishes, which often play a central role in family banquets and festivals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肴 with similar-sounding words like 遭 (zāo). For example, mistakenly saying '我喜欢遭菜' (wǒ xǐhuān zāo cài) instead of '我喜欢肴菜' (wǒ xǐhuān yáo cài) to express liking prepared dishes can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肴
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Grammar Patterns of 肴
肴 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
晚饭就着鲜脆的色拉尝尝这道佳____。
Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad.
The symbol displayed outside a restaurant signifies there's excellent cuisine inside.
7
美乐皇轩红酒色深沉而通透,酒香醇厚而丰富,于甜平衡而调和,实在是佐肴之佳酿.
měi lè huáng xuān hóng jiǔ sè shēn chén ér tōng tòu, , jiǔ xiāng chún hòu ér fēng, fù , yú tián píng héng ér, tiáo hé , shí zài shì zuǒ yáo.
It attains maturity quickly but continues to age well over time.
8
在他面前摆上了佳肴美酒,他饱食了一顿,恢复了精神.
zài tā miàn qián bǎi shàng le jiā yáo měi jiǔ, , tā bǎo shí le yī, dùn , huī fù le.
Food and wine were set before him and he ate and refreshed himself.
9
沪帮的菜肴油水较重而京菜的味咸调料多.
hù bāng de cài yáo yóu shuǐ jiào zhòng ér jīng cài de wèi xián tiáo liào duō.
Shanghai food is rather oily, and Beijing food is salty and spicy.
10
更不用再说那肴馔之盛.
gēng bù yòng zài shuō nà yáo zhuàn zhī shèng.
No need to dwell on the sumptuousness of that feast.
Cultural Notes for 肴
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food is a significant aspect of social gatherings and celebrations. The term 肴 emphasizes the importance of carefully prepared dishes, which often play a central role in family banquets and festivals.
Word Family of 肴
Compounds5
淆xiao2variant of 淆[xiáo]
崤Xiao2a mountain in Henan
倄
誵
餚yao2cooked or prepared meat
Words Containing This Character4
菜肴dish菜餚
佳肴jiāyáofine food佳餚
肴yáomeat dishes
酒肴wine and meat酒殽
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 淆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肴
肴 translates to 'prepared meat' or 'cooked dishes.'
No, 肴 is more often found in written language or formal culinary contexts.
