Meanings of 叩
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About 叩
Podcast: 叩
Podcast: 叩
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AI Study Notes for 叩
敲 (qiāo) — use 叩 (kòu) for formal or respectful knocking, while 敲 (qiāo) is more casual and general.
Be careful not to confuse 叩 with similar-sounding words. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is also common in everyday situations, such as asking for permission. A common collocation is 叩门 (kòu mén), meaning 'to knock on the door'.
Though 叩 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other action verbs in the lower HSK levels, such as 打 (dǎ, to hit) or 敲 (qiāo, to tap). Focus on pronunciation and the context of use to avoid confusion with these similar verbs.
Learners often confuse 叩 with 敲 (qiāo), which also means to knock but is used more for tapping or striking lightly. For instance, saying '我叩桌子' instead of '我敲桌子' (I knock on the table) is incorrect; use 敲 for that context.
Pronunciation of 叩
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Jason Explains 叩 to You
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Etymology of 叩
Phonosemantic compound. 卩 represents the meaning and 口 represents the sound. Simplified form of 敂.
kneel
Origin
叩 = 卩 + 口. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 叩
Parts
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How to say to ask; to bow, to kowtow; to knock in Chinese
“to ask; to bow, to kowtow; to knock” in Chinese is叩
The character 叩 (kòu) primarily means to knock or to strike, often used in contexts such as knocking on a door. It also has connotations of respect, as in bowing or kowtowing, which is a traditional gesture of reverence in Chinese culture. This character can convey both physical action and social etiquette depending on the context.
When to use 叩
Be careful not to confuse 叩 with similar-sounding words. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is also common in everyday situations, such as asking for permission. A common collocation is 叩门 (kòu mén), meaning 'to knock on the door'.
叩 or something close to it
敲 (qiāo) — use 叩 (kòu) for formal or respectful knocking, while 敲 (qiāo) is more casual and general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 叩 with 敲 (qiāo), which also means to knock but is used more for tapping or striking lightly. For instance, saying '我叩桌子' instead of '我敲桌子' (I knock on the table) is incorrect; use 敲 for that context.
Write 叩
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Practice writing 叩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 叩
叩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他在讲话前先轻____了一下扩音器.
He gave a tap at the microphone before speaking.
Example Sentences for 叩 (4)
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Word Family of 叩
Words with 叩
What does 叩首 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 叩
In a social context, 叩 implies showing respect through actions like bowing or kowtowing.
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