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March 24, 2026
诌(謅)zhōu(zhou1)
The character 诌 (zhōu) means to play with words or to quip, often implying a sense of humor or light-heartedness. It can also refer to making up stories or talking nonsense, typically in a playful context. This character is commonly used in informal conversations or creative expressions.
Strokes7Radical讠Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humor often involves wordplay, and 诌 reflects this aspect of communication. It is common to hear people using playful language in casual settings, especially during festivals or gatherings, where storytelling and humor are essential.
Memory Tip
Imagine a playful jester (the radical 言, meaning 'speech') who is always quipping and making up silly stories (the character 诌). The sound 'zhōu' can be remembered by associating it with the image of a jester who 'zhou' (sounds like 'joke') around, entertaining everyone with his antics.
Meanings of 诌
zhōu(zhou1)
1to quip, to play with words, to talk nonsense
2to make up (a story)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 诌
诌Simplified
謅Traditional
7Strokes
讠Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 诌
Podcast: 诌
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AI Study Notes for 诌
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a playful jester (the radical 言, meaning 'speech') who is always quipping and making up silly stories (the character 诌). The sound 'zhōu' can be remembered by associating it with the image of a jester who 'zhou' (sounds like 'joke') around, entertaining everyone with his antics.
Usage Notes
While 诌 can be used informally, it may carry a slightly negative connotation when describing someone as talking nonsense. Be careful with tone, as the character's pronunciation can be confused with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 诌笑 (to joke) and 诌话 (to talk nonsense).
HSK Study Tips
Although 诌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its playful nature connects well with other informal expressions at lower HSK levels. Students should focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in dialogues involving humor or storytelling.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humor often involves wordplay, and 诌 reflects this aspect of communication. It is common to hear people using playful language in casual settings, especially during festivals or gatherings, where storytelling and humor are essential.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诌 with 诌 (zāo), which means 'to be in a mess.' For example, saying '我在诌一个故事' (I am quipping a story) instead of '我在诌一个故事' (I am telling a story) can lead to confusion. Always ensure you use the correct character for your intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诌
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Grammar Patterns of 诌
诌 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 3 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 3
Complete the Sentence
除了他这样蠢人谁会如此胡____.
Who but a fool like he would talk through his hat.
Example Sentences for 诌 (3)
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1
除了他这样蠢人谁会如此胡诌.
chú le tā zhè yàng chǔn rén shuí huì rú cǐ hú zhōu.
Who but a fool like he would talk through his hat.
Now tell me the truth: I don't want any more of your fairy stories.
3
他对我们胡诌在坏电梯中困了几个小时.
tā duì wǒ mén hú zhōu zài huài diàn tī zhōng kùn le jī gè xiǎo shí.
He spun us this unlikely yarn about being trapped for hours in a broken lift.
Cultural Notes for 诌
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, humor often involves wordplay, and 诌 reflects this aspect of communication. It is common to hear people using playful language in casual settings, especially during festivals or gatherings, where storytelling and humor are essential.
Word Family of 诌
Words Containing This Character4
胡诌wild babble胡謅
诌zhōuTaiwan pr. [zōu]謅
胡诌八扯to talk random nonsense (idiom); to say whatever comes into one's head胡謅八扯
胡诌乱扯to talk nonsense (idiom); saying whatever comes into his head胡謅亂扯
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 胡诌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 诌
No, 诌 can be used positively to describe playful banter or humorous storytelling, though it can also imply nonsense.
It is pronounced as 'zhōu' in Mandarin; ensure you use the correct tone to convey the intended meaning.
It is generally not used in formal writing as it is more suited for informal conversations.
