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March 24, 2026
悄qiāo(qiao1)
The character 悄 (qiāo) conveys a sense of quietness or stillness. It is often used in contexts where silence or a subdued atmosphere is emphasized, such as in the phrase 悄悄 (qiāo qiāo), meaning 'quietly' or 'silently.' The character can also imply a sense of sadness or anxiety, adding emotional depth to its usage.
Strokes10Radical忄Frequency#32652DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and poetry, silence often conveys deep emotion and introspection, making 悄 a significant character in expressing nuanced feelings. Its association with quietness is frequently reflected in traditional Chinese aesthetics, where stillness is valued.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quiet whisper in a dim room. The character 悄 has the '亻' (person) radical on the left, suggesting the presence of a person in a quiet state, while the right side resembles a gentle wave, indicating stillness and calmness. Visualize someone quietly contemplating their sadness, which connects to the pronunciation 'qiāo'.
Meanings of 悄
qiāo(qiao1)
primary
1quiet
2sad
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 悄
悄Simplified
10Strokes
忄Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#32652Frequency Rank
Podcast: 悄
Podcast: 悄
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AI Study Notes for 悄
Quick Contrast
悄 (qiāo) vs 静 (jìng) — use 悄 for quietness with emotional nuance, while 静 emphasizes a state of stillness or calm.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a quiet whisper in a dim room. The character 悄 has the '亻' (person) radical on the left, suggesting the presence of a person in a quiet state, while the right side resembles a gentle wave, indicating stillness and calmness. Visualize someone quietly contemplating their sadness, which connects to the pronunciation 'qiāo'.
Usage Notes
Students often confuse 悄 with other words that denote quietness, like 安静 (ān jìng), which is more formal. Be mindful of the context; 悄 is often used in literary or poetic settings. A common collocation is 悄悄 (qiāo qiāo), where repetition emphasizes the quietness.
HSK Study Tips
While 悄 is not part of the official HSK levels, it complements vocabulary related to emotions and atmosphere. Students at this level should focus on understanding its usage in phrases like 悄悄 and how it contrasts with more common terms for quietness.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and poetry, silence often conveys deep emotion and introspection, making 悄 a significant character in expressing nuanced feelings. Its association with quietness is frequently reflected in traditional Chinese aesthetics, where stillness is valued.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 悄 in casual conversation where a more common word for quietness, like 安静 (ān jìng), would be appropriate. For example, saying '今天天气很悄' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn qiāo) is incorrect; instead, use '安静' or '好' (hǎo) to describe good weather.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 悄
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Grammar Patterns of 悄
悄 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 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
“那么你认为如何？”她声音嘶哑地____声问道。
"So what do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.
Common Confusions with 悄
悄vs喧
xuān
Opposite meaning; relates to noise.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "quiet"?
or
Example Sentences for 悄 (10)
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1
“那么你认为如何？”她声音嘶哑地悄声问道。
“ “ nà mó nǐ rèn wéi rú？” hé ？” tā shēng yīn sī yǎ dì qiǎo shēng。
"So what do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.
Then it was back to the house for a quiet celebration.
7
科因两腿悄悄滑下了床。
kē yīn liǎng tuǐ qiǎo qiǎo huá xià le chuáng。
Coyne slid his legs over the side of the bed.
8
现在他的其他主要作品又悄然出现在音乐会节目单上。
xiàn zài tā de qí tā zhǔ yào zuò pǐn yòu qiǎo rán chū xiàn zài yīn lè huì jié mù dān shàng。
Now his other major works are creeping back into concert programmes.
9
奇怪的黑影在几乎浓得化不开的黑暗里悄无声息地移动。
qí guài de hēi yǐng zài jī hū nóng dé huà bù kāi de hēi àn lǐ qiǎo wú shēng xī dì yí dòng。
Strange shadows moved silently in the almost permanent darkness.
10
她本打算悄悄进去，但谈话却突然中断了。
tā běn dǎ suàn qiǎo qiǎo jìn qù， ， dàn tán huà què tū rán zhōng duàn。
She had meant to make a discreet entrance, but conversation stopped dead.
Cultural Notes for 悄
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature and poetry, silence often conveys deep emotion and introspection, making 悄 a significant character in expressing nuanced feelings. Its association with quietness is frequently reflected in traditional Chinese aesthetics, where stillness is valued.
Word Family of 悄
Words Containing This Character8
悄悄qiāoqiāoquietly
悄然quietly
悄悄话whisperings悄悄話
悄无声息quietly悄無聲息
悄qiāoquietly
静悄悄extremely quiet靜悄悄
悄声quietly悄聲
悄然无声absolutely quiet悄然無聲
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 悄悄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 悄
It primarily means 'quiet' or 'silent,' but can also convey feelings of sadness or anxiety in certain contexts.
You can use it in phrases like 悄悄话 (qiāo qiāo huà), meaning 'whispered words'.
It's more commonly found in written or formal contexts, especially in literature, rather than in everyday conversation.
