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扰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
扰
rǎo
to disturb
v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14323, Very Hard
扰
rǎo
to poke, to disturb, to annoy, to agitate
v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14323, Very Hard
rǎo(rao3)rao T3
1to disturb
2to poke, to disturb, to annoy, to agitate
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March 24, 2026
扰(擾)rǎo(rao3)
The character 扰 (rǎo) means to disturb or to agitate someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's peace or routine is interrupted, often causing annoyance or trouble. This word can describe both physical disturbances, such as noise, and emotional disturbances, like anxiety.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#14323DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony is valued, so the concept of disturbing someone is particularly sensitive. This can be seen in social etiquette where being 'disturbing' can lead to social repercussions.
Memory tip
Imagine a raucous crowd disturbing a peaceful scene. The character 扰 looks like a hand (扌) poking at a person (扰), symbolizing how one can disturb someone else's peace. The pronunciation 'rǎo' can be remembered by thinking of 'rowdy,' which connects to the idea of being disturbed.
Meanings of 扰
rǎo(rao3)
1to disturb
2to poke, to disturb, to annoy, to agitate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 扰 means.
About 扰
扰Simplified
擾Traditional
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14323Frequency Rank
Podcast: 扰
Podcast: 扰
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AI study notes for 扰
Quick Contrast
扰 (rǎo) vs 打扰 (dǎrǎo) — use 扰 for a more general sense of disturbance, while 打扰 specifically refers to interrupting someone, often with a request or inquiry.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 扰, as mispronouncing can lead to misunderstandings. It's often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions about social issues or mental health. Common collocations include '打扰' (dǎrǎo, to disturb) and '骚扰' (sāorǎo, to harass).
HSK Study Tips
While 扰 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it shares roots with related words like 打扰 (dǎrǎo). Students should focus on its usage in phrases that describe disturbance to build vocabulary related to social interactions and conflicts.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 扰 with other similar-sounding words. For example, using '扰' instead of '扰' in context can change the meaning significantly. Make sure to practice the correct tones and context to avoid these errors.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扰
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 扰 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.
扰 = 扌 + 尤. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 扰
IDS Structure⿰扌尤
扰Full character
=
扌shou3
left
尤You2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 扰?
How to say to disturb in Chinese
“to disturb” in Chinese is扰rǎo
The character 扰 (rǎo) means to disturb or to agitate someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's peace or routine is interrupted, often causing annoyance or trouble. This word can describe both physical disturbances, such as noise, and emotional disturbances, like anxiety.
When to use 扰
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 扰, as mispronouncing can lead to misunderstandings. It's often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions about social issues or mental health. Common collocations include '打扰' (dǎrǎo, to disturb) and '骚扰' (sāorǎo, to harass).
扰 or something close to it
扰 (rǎo) vs 打扰 (dǎrǎo) — use 扰 for a more general sense of disturbance, while 打扰 specifically refers to interrupting someone, often with a request or inquiry.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 扰 with other similar-sounding words. For example, using '扰' instead of '扰' in context can change the meaning significantly. Make sure to practice the correct tones and context to avoid these errors.
Write 扰
扰
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Practice writing 扰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 扰
扰 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. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我的确非常喜欢这里宁静幽雅、不受打____的氛围。
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
Common confusions with 扰
扰vs饶
ráo
Similar in shape and sound but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to disturb”?
or
Usage Notes for 扰
Misuse in ContextCommon Error
Students often confuse 扰 with other similar verbs like 打扰 (dǎrǎo) which also means to disturb but is used in more specific contexts.
1
他总是打扰我学习。
He always disturbs my studying.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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Cultural Notes for 扰
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, being disturbed during work or study is often seen as disrespectful. The concept of '打扰' is taken seriously in professional environments, where focus and respect for others' time are valued.
Word Family of 扰
Words containing this character20
打扰dǎrǎoto disturb打擾
干扰gānrǎoto disturb干擾
困扰kùnrǎoto perplex困擾
骚扰sāorǎoto disturb騷擾
扰rǎoto disturb擾
扰乱rǎoluànto disturb擾亂
性骚扰xìngsāorǎosexual harassment性騷擾
干扰素gānrǎosùinterferon干擾素
扰动rǎodòngto disturb擾動
侵扰qīnrǎoto invade and harass侵擾
庸人自扰yōngrénzìrǎofig. to get upset over nothing庸人自擾
烦扰fánrǎoto bother煩擾
惊扰jīngrǎoto alarm驚擾
纷扰fēnrǎoturmoil紛擾
滋扰zīrǎoto cause trouble滋擾
搅扰jiǎorǎoto disturb攪擾
窜扰cuànrǎoto invade and harass竄擾
微扰wēirǎoinfinitesimal disturbance微擾
喧扰xuānrǎoto disturb by noise喧擾
缠扰chánrǎoto harass纏擾
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 扰
What does 打扰 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 扰
Some synonyms for 扰 include 打扰 (dǎrǎo), which also means 'to disturb', and 侵扰 (qīnrǎo), meaning 'to invade or intrude'. These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context.
扰 (rǎo) and 打扰 (dǎrǎo) both mean 'to disturb', but 打扰 is more commonly used in everyday conversation. 扰 can carry a slightly more formal or literary connotation, while 打扰 is often used in casual contexts like asking someone not to disturb you.
扰 (rǎo) means 'to disturb' or 'to annoy'. It can be used in various contexts, such as disturbing someone's peace or agitating a situation. The character can also imply poking or irritating someone.
You can use 扰 to describe actions that disturb or annoy someone, for example: '请不要打扰我' (qǐng bùyào dǎrǎo wǒ), which means 'Please do not disturb me'. It can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as in phrases like '扰乱秩序' (rǎoluàn zhìxù), meaning 'to disrupt order'.
Common phrases include '打扰' (dǎrǎo, to disturb) and '骚扰' (sāorǎo, to harass), which are frequently used in everyday conversation.
Yes, while it is often used informally, 扰 can also appear in formal discussions, especially regarding social issues.
The character 扰 is pronounced with a third tone 'rǎo'. Focus on lowering your pitch and then rising when saying it.
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