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March 24, 2026
椒jiāo(jiao1)
椒 (jiāo) refers to pepper, a spice commonly used in cooking to add flavor and heat to dishes. It can denote various types of pepper, including both the spicy kind and the milder varieties. This character is often encountered in culinary contexts and discussions about seasoning.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#26805DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, pepper plays a significant role, especially in Sichuan cuisine where peppercorns are used to create a unique numbing spiciness. This emphasizes the diverse flavor profiles in Chinese cooking.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'jolly' chef (jiāo sounds like 'jow') sprinkling vibrant red pepper (the character looks somewhat like a pepper pod with its curves). The '木' radical at the bottom represents wood or plants, reminding you that peppers grow on plants.
Meanings of 椒
jiāo(jiao1)
1pepper
2pepper, spice
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 椒
椒Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#26805Frequency Rank
Podcast: 椒
Podcast: 椒
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AI Study Notes for 椒
Quick Contrast
椒 (jiāo) vs 辣椒 (làjiāo) — use 椒 for general reference to pepper types, while 辣椒 specifically refers to hot peppers.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'jolly' chef (jiāo sounds like 'jow') sprinkling vibrant red pepper (the character looks somewhat like a pepper pod with its curves). The '木' radical at the bottom represents wood or plants, reminding you that peppers grow on plants.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 椒 with other similar characters like 辣 (là), which means spicy. The word is generally informal and is often used in cooking contexts. Common collocations include 椒盐 (jiāo yán), meaning 'pepper salt'.
HSK Study Tips
While 椒 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to food-related vocabulary often found in early stages. Students should focus on recognizing it in menus or recipes, as well as its pronunciation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, pepper plays a significant role, especially in Sichuan cuisine where peppercorns are used to create a unique numbing spiciness. This emphasizes the diverse flavor profiles in Chinese cooking.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 椒 with 辣 (là), which means spicy. For example, saying '我喜欢辣椒' (Wǒ xǐhuān làjiāo) is correct for 'I like spicy peppers', while using 椒 would be incorrect in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 椒
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Grammar Patterns of 椒
椒 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 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
Complete the Sentence
你可以在15分钟内做出一道便宜的辣____素菜。
You can cook a cheap veggie chilli in 15 minutes.
Example Sentences for 椒 (10)
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1
你可以在15分钟内做出一道便宜的辣椒素菜。
nǐ kě yǐ zài15 15 fēn zhōng nèi zuò chū yī dào biàn yí de là jiāo sù。
xiàng tián jiāo zhè yàng de shū cài huì qiāng le yuán tāng de wèi dào。
Vegetables such as peppers can overpower the flavor of the stock.
5
切辣椒时要戴橡胶手套，因为辣椒会刺激皮肤。
qiē là jiāo shí yào dài xiàng jiāo shǒu tào， ， yīn wéi là jiāo huì cì jī pí。
Wear rubber gloves while chopping chillies as they can irritate the skin.
6
这要看你下多重的辣椒粉了。
zhè yào kàn nǐ xià duō zhòng de là jiāo fěn le。
It all depends on how heavy-handed you are with the paprika.
7
她在我的食物上撒了点胡椒粉，看着我吃。
tā zài wǒ de shí wù shàng sā le diǎn hú jiāo fěn， ， kàn zháo wǒ。
She sprinkled pepper on my grub, watching me nosh.
8
略微加点盐和胡椒调味。
lüè wēi jiā diǎn yán hé hú jiāo tiáo wèi。
Season lightly with salt and pepper.
9
给牛排多加些盐和胡椒调味。
gěi niú pái duō jiā xiē yán hé hú jiāo tiáo wèi。
Season the steaks generously with salt and pepper.
10
用油炸一下剩下的辣椒，如果需要再加点调味汁。
yòng yóu zhà yī xià shèng xià de là jiāo， ， rú guǒ xū yào zài jiā diǎn tiáo wèi。
Fry remaining peppers, adding a little more dressing if necessary.
Cultural Notes for 椒
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, pepper plays a significant role, especially in Sichuan cuisine where peppercorns are used to create a unique numbing spiciness. This emphasizes the diverse flavor profiles in Chinese cooking.
Word Family of 椒
Words Containing This Character14
辣椒làjiāochili
胡椒pepper
椒jiāopepper
辣椒酱red pepper paste辣椒醬
花椒Sichuan pepper
青椒Capsicum annuum
胡椒粉ground pepper (i.e. powder)
黑胡椒black pepper
椒江Jiaojiang district of Taizhou city 台州市[Tāizhōushì], Zhejiang
柿子椒bell pepper
椒江区Jiaojiang district of Taizhou city 台州市[Tāizhōushì], Zhejiang椒江區
全椒Quanjiao county in Chuzhou 滁州[Chúzhōu], Anhui
全椒县Quanjiao county in Chuzhou 滁州[Chúzhōu], Anhui全椒縣
番椒chili
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 辣椒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 椒
It means 'pepper' and refers to various types of pepper used in cooking.
It is pronounced as 'jiāo'.
It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially related to food.
