HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Hard
撬
qiào
to pry open
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Hard
撬
qiào
to lever open
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Hard
qiào(qiao4) T4
1to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid
2to pry open
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March 24, 2026
撬qiào(qiao4)
撬 (qiào) means to lift or pry something open, typically using a tool or lever. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions like opening a lid or removing something that is fixed in place. The nuance often implies using force or effort to achieve the action.
Strokes15Radical扌Frequency#6365DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese carpentry, tools resembling what we call 'pry bars' are often used to manipulate wooden structures, and the concept of lifting or prying is integral to craftsmanship.
Memory Tip
Imagine a crowbar (撬) lifting a heavy lid off a box. The character has a strong, sturdy look to it, like the crowbar itself. Connect the sound 'qiào' to 'crow' (as in crowbar) to help remember its meaning.
Meanings of 撬
qiào(qiao4)
1to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid
2to pry open
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 撬
撬Simplified
15Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 撬
Podcast: 撬
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AI Study Notes for 撬
Quick Contrast
撬 (qiào) vs 拆 (chāi) — use 撬 when emphasizing lifting or prying open, while 拆 focuses on taking apart or dismantling.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a crowbar (撬) lifting a heavy lid off a box. The character has a strong, sturdy look to it, like the crowbar itself. Connect the sound 'qiào' to 'crow' (as in crowbar) to help remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 撬 is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to physical actions. It can be confused with other lifting verbs like 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are more general. Common collocations include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).
HSK Study Tips
Although 撬 is not in the official HSK list, it connects with other action verbs related to physical movement found in lower levels, such as 提 (tí, lift) and 拿 (ná, take). Focus on its usage in practical scenarios to enhance understanding.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese carpentry, tools resembling what we call 'pry bars' are often used to manipulate wooden structures, and the concept of lifting or prying is integral to craftsmanship.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 撬 with 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are also related to lifting but used in different contexts. For example, saying '我撬起这个盒子' (wǒ qiàoqǐ zhège hézi, I pry up this box) is incorrect; it should be '我提起这个盒子' (wǒ tíqǐ zhège hézi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 撬
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Grammar Patterns of 撬
撬 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我和艾莉森只得从他口中____出谈话内容。
Alison and I had to prize conversation out of him.
Example Sentences for 撬 (4)
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1
我和艾莉森只得从他口中撬出谈话内容。
wǒ hé ài lì sēn zhī dé cóng tā kǒu zhōng qiào chū tán huà nèi róng。
Alison and I had to prize conversation out of him.
2
他熟练地撬开每一把锁，把每个抽屉里的文件都偷走了。
tā shú liàn dì qiào kāi měi yī bǎ suǒ， ， bǎ měi gè chōu tì lǐ de wén jiàn dū tōu zǒu。
He picked each lock deftly, and rifled the papers within each drawer.
3
有人强行撬开落地窗上的锁闯入屋里。
yǒu rén qiáng háng qiào kāi luò dì chuāng shàng de suǒ chuǎng rù wū lǐ。
An intruder forced open a lock on French windows at the house.
Thieves shinned up a drainpipe and forced open the window.
Cultural Notes for 撬
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese carpentry, tools resembling what we call 'pry bars' are often used to manipulate wooden structures, and the concept of lifting or prying is integral to craftsmanship.
Word Family of 撬
Words Containing This Character5
撬qiàoto lift
撬开to pry open撬開
撬棍crowbar
撬杠crowbar撬槓
撬棒crowbar
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 撬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撬
Common phrases include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).
No, 撬 is generally used in informal contexts and is more common in spoken language.
The correct pronunciation is 'qiào', with a falling tone.
