Meanings of 舀
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About 舀
Podcast: 舀
Podcast: 舀
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AI Study Notes for 舀
舀 (yǎo) vs 盛 (shèng): Use 舀 when emphasizing the action of scooping out, while 盛 focuses on the act of holding or containing.
Be careful not to confuse 舀 with similar verbs like 倒 (dào) which means to pour out. 舀 is more specific to scooping, often used in informal contexts when serving food. Common collocations include 舀汤 (yǎo tāng, scoop soup) and 舀饭 (yǎo fàn, scoop rice).
Though 舀 is not in the HSK levels, it is useful for learners at the early intermediate stage who are expanding their vocabulary related to cooking and food. Students should focus on the context of food preparation and serving.
Learners often confuse 舀 with other verbs related to serving food, such as 倒 (dào) or 盛 (chéng). For example, saying '我倒汤' (wǒ dào tāng) instead of '我舀汤' (wǒ yǎo tāng) is incorrect if you mean to scoop rather than pour.
Pronunciation of 舀
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Etymology of 舀
A hand 爫 fetching food from a container 臼
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 舀
- 1The giveawayA hand 爫 fetching food from a container 臼
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 舀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 舀
Identify the Components
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How to say to ladle out; to scoop in Chinese
“to ladle out; to scoop” in Chinese is舀
The verb 舀 (yǎo) means to ladle out or scoop up a liquid or semi-solid substance, typically using a utensil like a ladle or a scoop. It is commonly used in cooking contexts, such as serving soup or other dishes, and implies a careful, deliberate action.
When to use 舀
Be careful not to confuse 舀 with similar verbs like 倒 (dào) which means to pour out. 舀 is more specific to scooping, often used in informal contexts when serving food. Common collocations include 舀汤 (yǎo tāng, scoop soup) and 舀饭 (yǎo fàn, scoop rice).
舀 or something close to it
舀 (yǎo) vs 盛 (shèng): Use 舀 when emphasizing the action of scooping out, while 盛 focuses on the act of holding or containing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 舀 with other verbs related to serving food, such as 倒 (dào) or 盛 (chéng). For example, saying '我倒汤' (wǒ dào tāng) instead of '我舀汤' (wǒ yǎo tāng) is incorrect if you mean to scoop rather than pour.
Write 舀
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Practice writing 舀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 舀
舀 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.
Complete the Sentence
我们拼命往外____水，使它继续漂浮了几个小时。
We kept her afloat for a couple of hours by bailing frantically.
Example Sentences for 舀 (7)
Word Family of 舀
Compound Meaning
What does 舀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舀
It is pronounced as 'yǎo' with a third tone.
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