Meanings of 拗
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About 拗
Podcast: 拗
Podcast: 拗
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AI Study Notes for 拗
拗 (ǎo) vs 倔 (juè) — use 拗 for physical pulling or bending, while 倔 emphasizes stubbornness in attitude.
This character is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's stubbornness. Learners should be cautious with tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. A common collocation is 拗口 (ǎokǒu), which means to be hard to say. Avoid confusing 拗 (ǎo) with the similar sounding 拗 (ào), which has a different meaning.
Although 拗 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 vocabulary related to personality traits and actions. Students should focus on differentiating between the tones and understanding its uses in describing behavior.
Learners often confuse 拗 (ǎo) with its variant pronunciation 拗 (ào), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember to use the correct tone depending on the intended meaning.
Pronunciation of 拗
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Etymology of 拗
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 拗
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half幼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 拗
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How to say to pull, to drag; perverse, obstinate; bent, warped in Chinese
“to pull, to drag; perverse, obstinate; bent, warped” in Chinese is拗
The character 拗 (ǎo) primarily means to pull or drag, but it also conveys the idea of being obstinate or perverse. It can describe something that is bent or warped, or refer to a person who is stubborn or defies authority. This duality in meaning makes it applicable in various contexts, from physical actions to personality traits.
When to use 拗
This character is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's stubbornness. Learners should be cautious with tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. A common collocation is 拗口 (ǎokǒu), which means to be hard to say. Avoid confusing 拗 (ǎo) with the similar sounding 拗 (ào), which has a different meaning.
拗 or something close to it
拗 (ǎo) vs 倔 (juè) — use 拗 for physical pulling or bending, while 倔 emphasizes stubbornness in attitude.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拗 (ǎo) with its variant pronunciation 拗 (ào), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember to use the correct tone depending on the intended meaning.
Write 拗
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Practice writing 拗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 拗
拗 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 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.
Complete the Sentence
它读起来很____口。
It reads very awkwardly.
Example Sentences for 拗 (3)
Reorder the Sentence
It reads very awkwardly.
Word Family of 拗
Compound Meaning
What does 拗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拗
The difference lies in their tones and meanings; 拗 (ǎo) relates to being obstinate or pulling, while 拗 (ào) is a variant that can imply disobedience.
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