Meanings of 僚
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About 僚
Podcast: 僚
Podcast: 僚
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AI Study Notes for 僚
同僚 (tóngliáo, colleague) — 僚 (liáo) is more formal and often used in bureaucratic contexts, while 同僚 (tóngliáo) is a more general term for colleagues.
Be aware that 僚 is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 僚友 (liáo yǒu) meaning 'colleague' or 'friend'. A common mistake is using it in informal contexts where 朋友 (péng yǒu) would be more appropriate.
Though 僚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to work and relationships, especially at HSK level 5 and above. Students should focus on using 僚 in proper formal contexts to enhance their business Chinese vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 僚 with 朋友, thinking they can use them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我和我的僚一起去吃饭' (I am going to eat with my colleague) in a casual setting may sound awkward; it's better to use 朋友 in such cases.
Pronunciation of 僚
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Etymology of 僚
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 尞 represents the sound.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 僚
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 尞 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half尞 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 僚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 僚
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How to say companion, colleague; officials; bureaucracy; a pretty face in Chinese
“companion, colleague; officials; bureaucracy; a pretty face” in Chinese is僚
The character 僚 (liáo) refers to a companion or colleague, often in the context of officials or bureaucracy. It can also denote a pretty face or be used as a surname. This word is commonly used in formal settings, particularly when discussing relationships in a work or official environment.
When to use 僚
Be aware that 僚 is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 僚友 (liáo yǒu) meaning 'colleague' or 'friend'. A common mistake is using it in informal contexts where 朋友 (péng yǒu) would be more appropriate.
僚 or something close to it
同僚 (tóngliáo, colleague) — 僚 (liáo) is more formal and often used in bureaucratic contexts, while 同僚 (tóngliáo) is a more general term for colleagues.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 僚 with 朋友, thinking they can use them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我和我的僚一起去吃饭' (I am going to eat with my colleague) in a casual setting may sound awkward; it's better to use 朋友 in such cases.
Write 僚
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Practice writing 僚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 僚
僚 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 2 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.
Complete the Sentence
一群骨干右翼参议员曾企图左右自己的同____。
A hard-core group of right-wing senators had hoped to sway their colleagues.
Example Sentences for 僚 (4)
Word Family of 僚
Compound Meaning
What does 官僚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 僚
僚 (liáo) refers specifically to colleagues or companions in a formal context, while 朋友 (péng yǒu) simply means 'friend' and is used in informal situations.
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