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谯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谯qiáosurname Qiaounknown, 14 strokes, radical 讠
谯qiáotower; to ridicule, to blame; surnamenr, 14 strokes, radical 讠
谯qiáoridiculeunknown, 14 strokes, radical 讠
谯qiàosurname Qiaounknown, 14 strokes, radical 讠
谯qiàotower; to ridicule, to blame; surnamenr, 14 strokes, radical 讠
谯qiàoridiculeunknown, 14 strokes, radical 讠
qiáo(Qiao2)
primary
T2
  1. 1surname Qiao
  2. 2tower; to ridicule, to blame; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Qiao — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

谯(譙)qiáo(Qiao2)

The character 谯 (qiáo) primarily refers to a tower or pavilion, often used in the context of traditional Chinese architecture. It can also convey meanings related to ridicule or blame, and is a surname in Chinese culture, often associated with historical figures. The nuance of this character suggests a blend of physical structure and social commentary.

Strokes14Radical讠
Cultural Note

The character 谯 ties into traditional Chinese architecture, where towers often served as lookout points or places for social gatherings. In historical texts, towers are often sites of important events or gatherings, making this character significant in understanding cultural heritage.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall tower (the meaning of 谯) where people gather to share stories. Visualize one person at the top of the tower ridiculing those below, making jokes that resonate. The sound 'qiáo' can be imagined as 'chow', like enjoying a meal while someone pokes fun at you from above.

Meanings of 谯

qiáo(Qiao2)
primary
1tower; to ridicule, to blame; surname
2ridicule
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 谯

谯Simplified
譙Traditional
14Strokes
讠Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 谯

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Podcast: 谯

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AI Study Notes for 谯

Usage Notes

Use 谯 in formal contexts when discussing architecture or historical sites. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words or using it in informal conversation, where simpler terms may suffice. Pay attention to the tone; it's pronounced with a rising tone (qiáo) which is crucial for meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 谯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 4 words related to buildings and social interactions. Students should focus on the dual meanings of the word and practice using it in both contexts, especially in writing.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谯 with similar characters like 瞧 (qiáo), which means 'to look' or 'to see'. For example, using '我在谯你的问题' (I am at the tower your question) instead of '我在瞧你的问题' (I am looking at your question) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谯

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Etymology of 谯

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

speech

Semantic (meaning)讠
+
Phonetic (sound)焦
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 谯

  1. 1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half焦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayspeech
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 谯? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 谯?

Decomposition of 谯

IDS Structure⿰讠焦
谯Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
焦Jiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 谯?

How to say surname Qiao in Chinese

“surname Qiao” in Chinese is谯qiáo

The character 谯 (qiáo) primarily refers to a tower or pavilion, often used in the context of traditional Chinese architecture. It can also convey meanings related to ridicule or blame, and is a surname in Chinese culture, often associated with historical figures. The nuance of this character suggests a blend of physical structure and social commentary.

When to use 谯

Use 谯 in formal contexts when discussing architecture or historical sites. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words or using it in informal conversation, where simpler terms may suffice. Pay attention to the tone; it's pronounced with a rising tone (qiáo) which is crucial for meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谯 with similar characters like 瞧 (qiáo), which means 'to look' or 'to see'. For example, using '我在谯你的问题' (I am at the tower your question) instead of '我在瞧你的问题' (I am looking at your question) is incorrect.

Write 谯

谯

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 谯

Words Containing This Character4
谯qiáoridicule譙
谯城区Qiaocheng district of Bozhou city 亳州市[Bó​zhōu​shì], Anhui譙城區
谯城Qiaocheng district of Bozhou city 亳州市[Bó​zhōu​shì], Anhui譙城
南谯区Nanqiao district of Chuzhou city 滁州市[Chú​zhōu​shì], Anhui南譙區
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 谯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 谯

In everyday conversation, 谯 is less frequently used; it typically comes up in discussions about architecture or when referencing the surname.

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