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潮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
潮
cháo
tide
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
潮
cháo
current
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
潮
cháo
damp
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
潮
cháo
moist
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
潮
cháo
humid
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
潮
cháo
tide, current; damp, moist, wet
HSK 7, n, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8398, Very Hard
cháo(chao2)chao T2
1tide
2current
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March 24, 2026
潮cháo(chao2)
The character 潮 (cháo) primarily means 'tide' or 'current' in a nautical context, referring to the regular rise and fall of sea levels. It can also describe conditions of moisture or dampness in the air, making it relevant in discussions about weather or humidity.
Strokes15Radical氵Frequency#8398DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In coastal regions of China, the concept of tide (潮) is significant for fishing and agriculture, especially in areas like Fujian and Guangdong where tidal patterns influence local lifestyles and economies. Festivals related to tides and fishing are also prominent in these cultures.
Memory tip
Imagine the waves of the ocean rising and falling with the tides, represented by the flowing water radical '氵' on the left side of the character. The '潮' resembles a wave crashing on the shore, while the 'cháo' sounds like 'chow,' as in 'chow down' by the beach—enjoying a meal while watching the tides.
Meanings of 潮
cháo(chao2)
1tide
2current
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 潮 means.
About 潮
潮Simplified
15Strokes
氵Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#8398Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 潮
Podcast: 潮
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AI study notes for 潮
Quick Contrast
潮 (cháo, tide) vs 浪 (làng, wave) — use 潮 when referring specifically to the regular rise and fall of water levels, while 浪 refers to the surface movement of water.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 潮 with other characters that contain the water radical, as this can lead to misunderstandings about moisture versus tide. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about weather, the sea, or describing humid conditions. Common collocations include 潮湿 (cháoshī - humid) and 潮流 (cháoliú - current).
HSK Study Tips
Although 潮 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can enrich vocabulary related to nature and weather, which are often encountered at HSK 3 and 4. Students should focus on recognizing its use in compound words and phrases to understand its broader applications.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 潮 with similar characters like 水 (water) or 湿 (wet), leading to errors in context. For example, saying '今天潮' (Today is tide) instead of '今天潮湿' (Today is humid) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 潮
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 潮 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.
潮 = 氵 + 朝. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 潮
IDS Structure⿰氵朝
潮Full character
=
氵shui3
left
朝Chao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 潮?
How to say tide in Chinese
“tide” in Chinese is潮cháo
The character 潮 (cháo) primarily means 'tide' or 'current' in a nautical context, referring to the regular rise and fall of sea levels. It can also describe conditions of moisture or dampness in the air, making it relevant in discussions about weather or humidity.
When to use 潮
Be careful not to confuse 潮 with other characters that contain the water radical, as this can lead to misunderstandings about moisture versus tide. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about weather, the sea, or describing humid conditions. Common collocations include 潮湿 (cháoshī - humid) and 潮流 (cháoliú - current).
潮 or something close to it
潮 (cháo, tide) vs 浪 (làng, wave) — use 潮 when referring specifically to the regular rise and fall of water levels, while 浪 refers to the surface movement of water.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 潮 with similar characters like 水 (water) or 湿 (wet), leading to errors in context. For example, saying '今天潮' (Today is tide) instead of '今天潮湿' (Today is humid) is incorrect.
Write 潮
潮
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Practice writing 潮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 潮
潮 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 6 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.
外面的空气沉滞、____湿而闷热。
The outside air was heavy and moist and sultry.
Common confusions with 潮
潮vs巢
cháo
Similar sound and shape but different meanings.
潮vs超
chāo
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “tide”?
or
Example sentences for 潮 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
外面的空气沉滞、潮湿而闷热。
wàimiàn de kōngqì chén zhì、 cháoshī ér mēnrè。
The outside air was heavy and moist and sultry.
2
如果潮湿发霉的建筑令你生病了，霉菌很可能是病因。
rúguǒ cháoshī fā méi de jiànzhù lìng nǐ shēngbìng le， méi jūn hěn kěnéng shì bìng yīn。
If damp, musty buildings make you ill, mould is probably the cause.
3
这片潮湿地区也吸引了青蛙、蟾蜍和蝾螈一类的生物。
zhè piàn cháoshī dìqū yě xīyǐn le qīngwā、 chán chú hé róng yuán yī lèi de shēngwù。
This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.
4
有潮湿的木料和机油的气味。
yǒu cháoshī de mù liào hé Jī yóu de qìwèi。
There was a smell of damp wood and machine oil.
5
那是阴郁灰暗、潮湿多雨的一天。
nà shì yīn yù huī àn、 cháoshī duō yǔ de yī tiān。
It was a grey, wet, miserable day.
6
他的身体不能适应森林的潮湿。
tā de shēntǐ bù néng shìyìng sēnlín de cháoshī。
The dampness of the forest did not agree with him physically.
