Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
茭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
茭jiāoan edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatican, 9 strokes, radical 艹
jiāo(jiao1)jiao T1
  1. 1an edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatica
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

茭jiāo(jiao1)

茭 (jiāo) refers to an edible aquatic grass commonly known as wild rice, specifically the species Zizania aquatica. This plant is often found in wetlands and is notable for its long, slender stems and edible seeds, which are used in various culinary dishes, particularly in southern Chinese cuisine.

Strokes9Radical艹
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, particularly in regions near water bodies, 茭 is valued for its unique flavor and texture, often used in traditional dishes during festivals or celebrations. Its cultural significance is tied to the importance of rice and aquatic plants in Chinese agriculture.

Memory tip

Imagine a tall grass standing proud in a marsh, swaying gently in the breeze. The character 茭 looks like a grass plant (the radical '艹' on top) growing in water (the bottom part resembles a wave), reminding you of its aquatic environment and its name 'jiāo', which sounds like 'jow' as in 'jowly fish' that might swim nearby.

Meanings of 茭

jiāo(jiao1)
1an edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatica
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 茭 means.

About 茭

茭Simplified
9Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 茭

JasonAmy

Podcast: 茭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 茭

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 茭 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it might come across as more formal or technical in contexts like botany or cuisine. Common mistakes include confusing it with other grass-related words; remember that 茭 specifically refers to this type of aquatic grass.

HSK Study Tips

Given that 茭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on building related vocabulary around plants and food. Connecting it with similar characters like 草 (cǎo) for grass can help reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 茭 with similar-sounding characters like 娇 (jiāo), which means delicate or lovely. Remember that 茭 relates to a type of grass, not a description of something's appearance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 茭

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 茭 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 茭 to you

Let me explain 茭 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 茭 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 茭?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 茭 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 茭

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)交
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

茭 = 艹 + 交. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 茭

IDS Structure⿱艹交
茭Full character
=
艹cao3
top
交jiao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 茭?

How to say an edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatica in Chinese

“an edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatica” in Chinese is茭jiāo

茭 (jiāo) refers to an edible aquatic grass commonly known as wild rice, specifically the species Zizania aquatica. This plant is often found in wetlands and is notable for its long, slender stems and edible seeds, which are used in various culinary dishes, particularly in southern Chinese cuisine.

When to use 茭

Be mindful that 茭 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it might come across as more formal or technical in contexts like botany or cuisine. Common mistakes include confusing it with other grass-related words; remember that 茭 specifically refers to this type of aquatic grass.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 茭 with similar-sounding characters like 娇 (jiāo), which means delicate or lovely. Remember that 茭 relates to a type of grass, not a description of something's appearance.

Write 茭

茭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 茭?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 茭

Words containing this character2
茭白water bamboo
茭jiāoZizania aquatica
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 茭

What does 茭白 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 茭

茭 has a mild, slightly nutty flavor and a crunchy texture, making it a delightful addition to soups and stir-fries.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 茭?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab