unknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #11038, Very Hard
俏
qiào
charming
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #11038, Very Hard
俏
qiào
(of goods) in great demand
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #11038, Very Hard
俏
qiào
(coll.) to season (food)
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #11038, Very Hard
qiào(qiao4) T4
1to resemble; similar, alike; pretty
2good-looking
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
俏qiào(qiao4)
The character 俏 (qiào) conveys the idea of being pretty or charming, often used to describe someone or something that is visually appealing. It can also imply a sense of high demand or popularity, particularly in the context of goods or fashion. In a more informal context, it may refer to food that has been seasoned or made more appealing.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#11038DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The character 俏 is often associated with traditional Chinese aesthetics that value beauty and charm, particularly in fashion and personal presentation. This emphasis is reflected in various cultural practices, such as festivals where people dress in their finest attire.
Memory Tip
Imagine a charming figure (the character 俏 looks like a person with a stylish hat) that turns heads wherever they go. The '人' (person) radical suggests beauty in people, while the '喬' component hints at something elevated or refined, like a charming personality that stands out.
Meanings of 俏
qiào(qiao4)
1to resemble; similar, alike; pretty
2good-looking
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 俏
俏Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 俏
Podcast: 俏
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AI Study Notes for 俏
Quick Contrast
俏 (qiào) vs 漂亮 (piàoliang) — use 俏 for a more informal or trendy sense of charm, while 漂亮 is a more general term for beauty.
Usage Notes
While 俏 can be used informally to describe people, it is essential to use it appropriately in context, as it may not fit in more formal conversations. Common collocations include 俏丽 (qiàolì, beautiful) and 俏货 (qiàohuò, popular goods). Be careful with the tone; mixing it up can lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
Although 俏 is not part of the official HSK levels, it shares thematic connections with adjectives describing appearance found in HSK 3 and 4. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognition of similar words that convey beauty and popularity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 俏 with 漂亮, using it in contexts where a straightforward term for beauty is more appropriate. For example, saying '这个衣服很俏' (This dress is very pretty) might sound odd; instead, use '这个衣服很漂亮'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 俏
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1The giveawayA similar 肖 person 亻; 肖 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 俏? 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 俏?
Decomposition of 俏
IDS Structure⿰亻肖
俏Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
肖Xiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 俏?
How to say to resemble; similar, alike; pretty in Chinese
“to resemble; similar, alike; pretty” in Chinese is俏qiào
The character 俏 (qiào) conveys the idea of being pretty or charming, often used to describe someone or something that is visually appealing. It can also imply a sense of high demand or popularity, particularly in the context of goods or fashion. In a more informal context, it may refer to food that has been seasoned or made more appealing.
When to use 俏
While 俏 can be used informally to describe people, it is essential to use it appropriately in context, as it may not fit in more formal conversations. Common collocations include 俏丽 (qiàolì, beautiful) and 俏货 (qiàohuò, popular goods). Be careful with the tone; mixing it up can lead to misunderstanding.
俏 or something close to it
俏 (qiào) vs 漂亮 (piàoliang) — use 俏 for a more informal or trendy sense of charm, while 漂亮 is a more general term for beauty.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 俏 with 漂亮, using it in contexts where a straightforward term for beauty is more appropriate. For example, saying '这个衣服很俏' (This dress is very pretty) might sound odd; instead, use '这个衣服很漂亮'.
Write 俏
俏
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Practice writing 俏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 俏
俏 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 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 4
Complete the Sentence
给人的印象是柔和____丽而不是吸人眼球的性感。
The effect is soft and pretty rather than drop-dead sexy.
Example Sentences for 俏 (8)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
给人的印象是柔和俏丽而不是吸人眼球的性感。
gěi rén de yìn xiàng shì róu hé qiào lì ér bù shì xī rén yǎn qiú de xìng gǎn。
The effect is soft and pretty rather than drop-dead sexy.
