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骁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xiāovaliant, brave; skilled; a noble steedn, 9 strokes, radical 马, rank #72514, Very Hard
xiāogood horseunknown, 9 strokes, radical 马, rank #72514, Very Hard
xiāostrongunknown, 9 strokes, radical 马, rank #72514, Very Hard
xiāo(xiao1) T1
  1. 1valiant, brave; skilled; a noble steed
  2. 2good horse
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March 24, 2026
(驍)xiāo(xiao1)

The character 骁 (xiāo) refers to qualities of bravery and skill, often used to describe valiant warriors or exceptional horses. Its connotation of strength and nobility makes it common in literature and historical contexts, particularly in descriptions of heroic figures or admirable steeds.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#72514DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, horses are often seen as symbols of strength and nobility, and the character 骁 reflects this cultural appreciation. Historical texts frequently celebrate the valor of both warriors and their steeds, highlighting the importance of bravery in Chinese literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce warrior riding a magnificent horse into battle, charging forward with unparalleled bravery. The character 骁 resembles a horse (the radical '马' on the left) combined with the sound 'xiāo', which can remind you of the sound of hooves galloping towards glory.

Meanings of 骁

xiāo(xiao1)
1valiant, brave; skilled; a noble steed
2good horse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 骁

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

Podcast: 骁

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AI Study Notes for 骁

Quick Contrast

骏 (jùn) - use 骁 for emphasizing bravery and skill, while 骏 focuses more on the excellence and speed of horses.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fierce warrior riding a magnificent horse into battle, charging forward with unparalleled bravery. The character 骁 resembles a horse (the radical '马' on the left) combined with the sound 'xiāo', which can remind you of the sound of hooves galloping towards glory.

Usage Notes

This word is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; pronunciation is key, especially the first tone. Common collocations include '骁勇' (brave and valiant) and '骁马' (noble steed).

HSK Study Tips

Although 骁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it offers an opportunity to expand your understanding of descriptive adjectives related to bravery and skill. Students should focus on the context in which it appears, particularly in historical texts or poetry, to grasp its nuances.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, horses are often seen as symbols of strength and nobility, and the character 骁 reflects this cultural appreciation. Historical texts frequently celebrate the valor of both warriors and their steeds, highlighting the importance of bravery in Chinese literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 骁 with similar characters like 骐 (qí), which is also related to horses but does not carry the same connotations of bravery. Always ensure you understand the context in which 骁 is used to avoid misinterpretation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 骁

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Etymology of 骁

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

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 尧 represents the sound. Simplified form of 驍.

Memory Hint

horse

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 骁?

Decomposition of 骁

IDS Structure⿰马尧
Full Character
=
Ma3
left
Yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 骁?

Write 骁

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

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Grammar Patterns of 骁

骁 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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 2

Complete the Sentence

塞冬则提供一匹____勇善战的马.

Poseidon offered a strong horse war.

Example Sentences for 骁 (2)

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1
塞冬则提供一匹骁勇善战的马.

sāi dōng zé tí gōng yī pǐ xiāo yǒng shàn zhàn de mǎ.

Poseidon offered a strong horse war.
2
波塞冬则提供一匹骁勇善战的马.

bō sāi dōng zé tí gōng yī pǐ xiāo yǒng shàn zhàn de mǎ.

Poseidon offered a strong horse needed for war.

Cultural Notes for 骁

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, horses are often seen as symbols of strength and nobility, and the character 骁 reflects this cultural appreciation. Historical texts frequently celebrate the valor of both warriors and their steeds, highlighting the importance of bravery in Chinese literature.

Word Family of 骁

Words Containing This Character3
xiāobrave
骁勇善战to be brave and good at fighting (idiom)驍勇善戰
骁将valiant general驍將
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 骁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 骁

No, 骁 is more often found in literary contexts or when discussing historical figures and events.