Meanings of 喔
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About 喔
Podcast: 喔
Podcast: 喔
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AI study notes for 喔
喔 is generally informal and can be used in casual conversations. Be careful not to overuse it in formal writing or speeches. It often collocates with other particles or phrases expressing surprise or understanding, such as '原来' (yuánlái, it turns out).
While 喔 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 2 and 3, where expressions of surprise and acknowledgment are common. Students should focus on contextual usage in dialogues and listening practice to recognize its sound and meaning.
Learners often confuse 喔 with 哦 (ó), which has a similar sound but is used to soften statements rather than express surprise. For example, saying '我喔知道' (wǒ ō zhīdào) is incorrect; it should be '我哦知道' (wǒ ó zhīdào) to convey 'Oh, I see.'
Pronunciation of 喔
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Jason Explains 喔 to you
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 喔
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 屋 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
喔 = 口 + 屋. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 喔
Parts
Which of these is part of 喔?
How to say onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying in Chinese
“onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying” in Chinese is喔
The character 喔 (ō) is an onomatopoetic expression that mimics sounds such as crowing or crying. It is often used as a particle to convey surprise, realization, or acknowledgment in conversation, similar to saying 'oh' in English when one understands something or reacts to new information.
When to use 喔
喔 is generally informal and can be used in casual conversations. Be careful not to overuse it in formal writing or speeches. It often collocates with other particles or phrases expressing surprise or understanding, such as '原来' (yuánlái, it turns out).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 喔 with 哦 (ó), which has a similar sound but is used to soften statements rather than express surprise. For example, saying '我喔知道' (wǒ ō zhīdào) is incorrect; it should be '我哦知道' (wǒ ó zhīdào) to convey 'Oh, I see.'
Write 喔
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Practice writing 喔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 喔
喔 functions as an interjection — a standalone exclamation. It typically opens the sentence (啊！哎呀！) and is set off by a pause or comma. It carries 4 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.
Fill the gap
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____，干得好，大侦探。你全是自己推断出来的吗？
Oh, well done, Sherlock. Did you figure that out all by yourself?
Example sentences for 喔 (4)
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Word Family of 喔
Frequently asked questions about 喔
Use 喔 when you want to express surprise or realization in response to something someone says.
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