unknown, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #11716, Very Hard
澳
ào
abbr. for Macao 澳門|澳门
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #11716, Very Hard
澳
ào
abbr. for Australia 澳大利亞|澳大利亚
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #11716, Very Hard
ào(Ao4) T4
1bay, cove, dock, inlet
2harbor
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March 24, 2026
澳ào(Ao4)
The character 澳 (ào) primarily means 'bay' or 'cove' and is often used to refer to locations with water bodies, such as inlets or docks. It can also serve as an abbreviation for Macao (澳门) and Australia (澳大利亚), highlighting its geographical significance.
Strokes15Radical氵Frequency#11716DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Macao is known for its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, and its name includes the character 澳, signifying its coastal heritage. The bay areas in China often hold cultural significance, serving as historical trade routes.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 澳 (ào) as a boat (the radical 氵 representing water) sitting in a protective cove or bay. Imagine a boat docking in a calm inlet, and you can hear the 'A' sound of 'ao' as the waves gently lap against the hull.
Meanings of 澳
ào(Ao4)
1bay, cove, dock, inlet
2harbor
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 澳
澳Simplified
15Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 澳
Podcast: 澳
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AI Study Notes for 澳
Usage Notes
This character is more commonly used in geographical contexts and may not be familiar in everyday conversations. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters like 洲 (zhōu), which means 'continent' or 'island.' The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'aò' can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 澳 is not included in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 3 vocabulary related to geography and travel. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially when learning about places in China and abroad.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 澳 (ào) with similar-sounding characters, resulting in incorrect usage. For example, saying 澳洲 (àozhōu) when referring to Australia is incorrect; the proper term is 澳大利亚 (àodàlìyà).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 澳
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 奥 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half奥 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 澳? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 澳?
Decomposition of 澳
IDS Structure⿰氵奥
澳Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
奥Ao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 澳?
How to say bay, cove, dock, inlet in Chinese
“bay, cove, dock, inlet” in Chinese is澳ào
The character 澳 (ào) primarily means 'bay' or 'cove' and is often used to refer to locations with water bodies, such as inlets or docks. It can also serve as an abbreviation for Macao (澳门) and Australia (澳大利亚), highlighting its geographical significance.
When to use 澳
This character is more commonly used in geographical contexts and may not be familiar in everyday conversations. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters like 洲 (zhōu), which means 'continent' or 'island.' The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'aò' can change its meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 澳 (ào) with similar-sounding characters, resulting in incorrect usage. For example, saying 澳洲 (àozhōu) when referring to Australia is incorrect; the proper term is 澳大利亚 (àodàlìyà).
Write 澳
澳
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Practice writing 澳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 澳
澳 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 4 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
这家航空公司亏损达3,500万美元，而____航出资帮助其摆脱了困境。
The airline had losses of $35m and was bailed out by Qantas.
