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March 24, 2026
峭qiào(qiao4)
The character 峭 (qiào) refers to a steep or precipitous slope, often used to describe rugged landscapes such as mountains or cliffs. It can also convey a sense of severity or sternness in contexts like describing demeanor or conditions.
Strokes10Radical山Frequency#64547DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, mountains often symbolize strength and resilience. The character 峭 can reflect the respect for nature’s majesty and the challenges it presents, which is a theme frequently found in Chinese poetry and philosophy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall, rugged mountain peak that juts sharply into the sky, resembling the shape of the character 峭. The left part (山) represents 'mountain', while the right part (喬) relates to 'high' or 'tall'. Picture a stern mountain guide warning climbers about the steep ascent to reinforce the meaning.
Meanings of 峭
qiào(qiao4)
1high and steep
2precipitous
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 峭
峭Simplified
10Strokes
山Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#64547Frequency Rank
Podcast: 峭
Podcast: 峭
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AI Study Notes for 峭
Quick Contrast
峻 (jùn) - use 峭 (qiào) when emphasizing steepness or abruptness, while 峻 (jùn) often conveys a sense of grandeur or majesty in the steepness.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; it’s pronounced with a falling tone (qiào). This term is often used in literary or descriptive contexts, so it might come across as more formal. Common collocations include 峭壁 (qiàobì, 'sheer cliff') and 峭冷 (qiàolěng, 'severe cold').
HSK Study Tips
Although not in the official HSK lists, 峭 (qiào) can be connected to other HSK Level 4-5 words related to nature or geography, such as 山 (shān, 'mountain') and 陡 (dǒu, 'steep'). Focus on its use in descriptive language when discussing landscapes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 峭 with 陡 (dǒu), both meaning 'steep', but they are used in different contexts. For example, saying '这座山很陡峭' (This mountain is very steep) mixes terms; instead, use '这座山的峭壁很陡峭' to specify the cliff.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 峭
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How Well Do You Know 峭?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 峭 is seven skills, not one.
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.
峭 = 山 + 肖. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 峭
IDS Structure⿰山肖
峭Full Character
=
山Shan1
left
肖Xiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 峭?
How to say high and steep in Chinese
“high and steep” in Chinese is峭qiào
The character 峭 (qiào) refers to a steep or precipitous slope, often used to describe rugged landscapes such as mountains or cliffs. It can also convey a sense of severity or sternness in contexts like describing demeanor or conditions.
When to use 峭
Be cautious with the tone; it’s pronounced with a falling tone (qiào). This term is often used in literary or descriptive contexts, so it might come across as more formal. Common collocations include 峭壁 (qiàobì, 'sheer cliff') and 峭冷 (qiàolěng, 'severe cold').
峭 or something close to it
峻 (jùn) - use 峭 (qiào) when emphasizing steepness or abruptness, while 峻 (jùn) often conveys a sense of grandeur or majesty in the steepness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 峭 with 陡 (dǒu), both meaning 'steep', but they are used in different contexts. For example, saying '这座山很陡峭' (This mountain is very steep) mixes terms; instead, use '这座山的峭壁很陡峭' to specify the cliff.
Write 峭
峭
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Grammar Patterns of 峭
峭 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 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.
