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镳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镳biāobit, bridle; to rideg, 20 strokes, radical 钅, rank #25539, Very Hard
镳biāohorsebitunknown, 20 strokes, radical 钅, rank #25539, Very Hard
biāo(biao1) T1
  1. 1bit, bridle; to ride
  2. 2horsebit
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March 24, 2026
镳(鑣)biāo(biao1)

The character 镳 (biāo) refers to a horse's bit, which is a piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth to control it while riding. It can also imply the act of riding or can be used in the context of bridle equipment in equestrian activities. This character is less common but may appear in contexts related to horse riding or equine care.

Strokes20Radical钅Frequency#25539DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, horses have historically been significant for transportation and warfare, making terms related to horse equipment important in literature and history. The use of bits and bridles is a critical aspect of traditional horse riding practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a horse wearing a shiny bit (镳) in its mouth that glitters like metal (the radical 钅). Picture the horse eagerly wanting to run, representing the action of riding (骑). This visual connection can help you remember both the pronunciation (biāo) and the meaning.

Meanings of 镳

biāo(biao1)
1bit, bridle; to ride
2horsebit
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 镳

镳Simplified
鑣Traditional
20Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镳

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Podcast: 镳

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AI Study Notes for 镳

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a horse wearing a shiny bit (镳) in its mouth that glitters like metal (the radical 钅). Picture the horse eagerly wanting to run, representing the action of riding (骑). This visual connection can help you remember both the pronunciation (biāo) and the meaning.

Usage Notes

镳 is a more formal term and is not commonly used in everyday conversation. It's often found in literary or historical texts about horses. Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 镳 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other horse-related terms you may encounter. Focus on the radicals related to metal (金) and riding (骑) to help expand your vocabulary in this thematic area.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, horses have historically been significant for transportation and warfare, making terms related to horse equipment important in literature and history. The use of bits and bridles is a critical aspect of traditional horse riding practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镳 with similar characters like 鏢 (biāo). For example, saying '我有一个镳' (wǒ yǒu yīgè biāo) when they mean 'I have a horse bit' may lead to misunderstandings. Ensure correct usage by specifying contexts related to horse riding.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镳

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Etymology of 镳

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A metal bit 钅 used to saddle 麃 a horse

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 镳?

Decomposition of 镳

IDS Structure⿰钅麃
镳Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
麃pao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镳?

Write 镳

镳

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

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Grammar Patterns of 镳

镳 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 1

Complete the Sentence

这位网球明星与他的奥地利教练分道扬____。

The tennis star has parted company with his Austrian trainer.

Example Sentences for 镳 (1)

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1
这位网球明星与他的奥地利教练分道扬镳。

zhè wèi wǎng qiú míng xīng yǔ tā de ào dì lì jiào liàn fēn dào yáng biāo。

The tennis star has parted company with his Austrian trainer.

Cultural Notes for 镳

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, horses have historically been significant for transportation and warfare, making terms related to horse equipment important in literature and history. The use of bits and bridles is a critical aspect of traditional horse riding practices.

Word Family of 镳

Words Containing This Character2
分道扬镳fig. to part ways分道揚鑣
镳biāohorsebit鑣
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 分道扬镳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镳

It's pronounced as 'biāo' with a high-level tone.