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March 24, 2026
焦Jiāo(Jiao1)
The character 焦 (jiāo) primarily means 'burnt' or 'scorched,' often used to describe food that has been overcooked or an object that has been charred. Additionally, it conveys feelings of anxiety or worry, making it versatile in both culinary and emotional contexts.
Strokes12Radical灬Frequency#5077DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is highly regarded, and a common phrase is '焦了' (jiāo le) to jokingly refer to overcooked dishes during meals, highlighting the importance of cooking perfectly. Anxiety is also a common theme, especially in competitive environments like education and work.
Memory Tip
Imagine a piece of toast that has been left in the toaster too long, turning焦 (jiāo) and becoming burnt. The character looks like a flame rising from a charred surface, reminding you of the heat that causes焦 to happen.
Meanings of 焦
Jiāo(Jiao1)
1burnt
2scorched
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 焦
焦Simplified
12Strokes
灬Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5077Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 焦
Podcast: 焦
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AI Study Notes for 焦
Quick Contrast
焦 (burnt) vs 烧 (burn) — use 焦 when referring specifically to something that is overcooked or scorched, while 烧 can refer to the act of burning without the connotation of overcooking.
Usage Notes
焦 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it’s essential to differentiate its meanings based on context. Common collocations include 焦虑 (jiāo lǜ, anxious) and 焦糖 (jiāo táng, caramelized sugar). Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
焦 is not currently included in the HSK levels, but it's useful for learners who are progressing to more advanced vocabulary. Focus on its dual meanings—physical (burnt) and emotional (anxious)—to enrich your understanding of context in conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 焦 with similar characters like 烧 (shāo). For example, saying '我很烧' (wǒ hěn shāo) to express anxiety is incorrect; the correct form is '我很焦虑' (wǒ hěn jiāo lǜ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 焦
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Drill the tone of 焦 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Combination of 隹 (bird) and 灬 (fire). The purpose of the 隹 component is unclear.
1The giveawayA bird 隹 getting its tail singed 灬
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 焦? 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 焦?
Decomposition of 焦
IDS Structure⿱隹灬
焦Full Character
=
隹zhui1
top
灬huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 焦?
How to say burnt in Chinese
“burnt” in Chinese is焦Jiāo
The character 焦 (jiāo) primarily means 'burnt' or 'scorched,' often used to describe food that has been overcooked or an object that has been charred. Additionally, it conveys feelings of anxiety or worry, making it versatile in both culinary and emotional contexts.
When to use 焦
焦 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it’s essential to differentiate its meanings based on context. Common collocations include 焦虑 (jiāo lǜ, anxious) and 焦糖 (jiāo táng, caramelized sugar). Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
焦 or something close to it
焦 (burnt) vs 烧 (burn) — use 焦 when referring specifically to something that is overcooked or scorched, while 烧 can refer to the act of burning without the connotation of overcooking.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 焦 with similar characters like 烧 (shāo). For example, saying '我很烧' (wǒ hěn shāo) to express anxiety is incorrect; the correct form is '我很焦虑' (wǒ hěn jiāo lǜ).
Write 焦
焦
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Practice writing 焦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 焦
焦 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 8 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.
