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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#8398DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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
Spot the Difference
Which character means "tide"?
or
Example Sentences for 潮 (10)
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1
外面的空气沉滞、潮湿而闷热。
wài miàn de kōng qì chén zhì、 、 cháo shī ér mèn。
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。
rú guǒ cháo shī fā méi de jiàn zhù líng nǐ shēng bìng le， ， méi jūn hěn kě néng shì bìng。
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 cháo shī dì qū yě xī yǐn le qīng wā、 、 chán chú hé róng yuán yī lèi de shēng。
This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.
4
有潮湿的木料和机油的气味。
yǒu cháo shī de mù liào hé jī yóu de qì wèi。
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、 、 cháo shī duō yǔ de yī。
It was a grey, wet, miserable day.
6
他的身体不能适应森林的潮湿。
tā de shēn tǐ bù néng shì yīng sēn lín de cháo shī。
The dampness of the forest did not agree with him physically.
7
海滩上有些地方在涨潮时完全淹没在水中。
hǎi tān shàng yǒu xiē dì fāng zài zhǎng cháo shí wán quán yān méi zài shuǐ zhōng。
Some stretches of beach are completely underwater at high tide.
8
浅滩上的潮水逐渐退去。
qiǎn tān shàng de cháo shuǐ zhú jiàn tuì qù。
The tidal stream or current gradually decreases in the shallows.
9
潮水已经退去，他们走过岩石区的潮水潭。
cháo shuǐ yǐ jīng tuì qù， ， tā mén zǒu guò yán shí qū de cháo shuǐ。
The tide was out and they walked among the rock pools.
We decided, more or less on a whim, to sail to Morocco.
Cultural Notes for 潮
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 潮
Words Containing This Character20
潮cháotide
高潮gāocháohigh tide
潮流cháoliútide
浪潮wave
潮湿cháoshīdamp潮濕
热潮rècháoupsurge熱潮
新潮xīncháomodern
低潮low tide
风潮tempest風潮
潮水tide
潮汐tide
涨潮high tide漲潮
大潮spring tide
思潮tide of thought
性高潮orgasm
心血来潮carried away by a whim心血來潮
狂潮surging tide
潮汕Chaoshan, conurbation in the east of Guangdong 廣東|广东[Guǎngdōng]
潮州Chaochou town in Pingtung County 屏東縣|屏东县[PíngdōngXiàn], Taiwan
心潮澎湃to be overwhelmed by emotions
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 潮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 潮
潮 can refer to humid or damp conditions, describing the moisture in the air.
You might hear it when discussing weather forecasts or in conversations about the ocean.
Yes, phrases like 潮湿 (cháoshī - humid) and 潮流 (cháoliú - current) are common.
