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March 24, 2026
瑤yáo(yao2)
瑤 (yáo) refers to precious jade, often symbolizing beauty, purity, and value in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in both literary and everyday contexts to describe something exquisite, often in relation to jewelry or important artifacts.
Strokes14Radical王Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, jade is revered not only for its beauty but also for its supposed protective and healing properties. The word 瑤 embodies the cultural significance of jade as a symbol of status and virtue in Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful piece of jade sitting on a pedestal. The character 瑤 combines the radical '玉' (jade) on the left with '夭' (young, beautiful) on the right, which can help you remember that it signifies a precious, beautiful jade. The sound 'yáo' can be linked to the word 'yowl,' as if a cat is crying for this beautiful gem.
Meanings of 瑤
yáo(yao2)
1precious jade
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 瑤
瑤Simplified
14Strokes
王Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 瑤
Podcast: 瑤
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AI Study Notes for 瑤
Quick Contrast
瑶 (yáo) vs 玉 (yù) — use 瑶 when emphasizing beauty or rarity, while 玉 refers to jade in a more general or material sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a beautiful piece of jade sitting on a pedestal. The character 瑤 combines the radical '玉' (jade) on the left with '夭' (young, beautiful) on the right, which can help you remember that it signifies a precious, beautiful jade. The sound 'yáo' can be linked to the word 'yowl,' as if a cat is crying for this beautiful gem.
Usage Notes
瑤 is often used in literary contexts and can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other jade-related words like '玉' (yù), which is a broader term for jade. It frequently appears in expressions related to beauty or preciousness.
HSK Study Tips
瑤 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary but can be connected to HSK Level 4 words related to beauty and value, such as 美丽 (měilì, beautiful) and 贵 (guì, expensive). Focus on recognizing the character in literary texts and understanding its symbolic meanings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, jade is revered not only for its beauty but also for its supposed protective and healing properties. The word 瑤 embodies the cultural significance of jade as a symbol of status and virtue in Chinese history.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瑤 with 玉 (yù), which is a more general term for jade. For example, saying '我喜欢瑤' instead of '我喜欢玉' (I like jade) can sound overly formal and incorrect in casual conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瑤
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Cultural Notes for 瑤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, jade is revered not only for its beauty but also for its supposed protective and healing properties. The word 瑤 embodies the cultural significance of jade as a symbol of status and virtue in Chinese history.
Word Family of 瑤
Words Containing This Character18
瑶yáojade瑤
琼瑶Chiung Yao (1938-), Taiwanese writer瓊瑤
瑶族Yao ethnic group of southwest China and southeast Asia瑤族
瑶池the Jade lake on Mount Kunlun, residence of Xi Wangmu 西王母瑤池
瑶海区Yaohai district of Hefei city 合肥市[Héféishì], Anhui瑤海區
瑶海Yaohai district of Hefei city 合肥市[Héféishì], Anhui瑤海
都安瑶族自治县Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hezhou 賀州|贺州[Hèzhōu], Guangxi都安瑤族自治縣
恭城瑶族自治县Gongcheng Yao autonomous county in Guilin 桂林[Guìlín], Guangxi恭城瑤族自治縣
巴马瑶族自治县Bama Yaozu autonomous county in Hezhou 賀州|贺州[Hèzhōu], Guangxi巴馬瑤族自治縣
江华瑶族自治县Jianghua Yaozu autonomous county in Yongzhou 永州[Yǒngzhōu], Hunan江華瑤族自治縣
乳源瑶族自治县Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in Shaoguan 韶關|韶关[Sháoguān], Guangdong乳源瑤族自治縣
大化瑶族自治县Dahua Yao Autonomous County in Hezhou 賀州|贺州[Hèzhōu], Guangxi大化瑤族自治縣
金秀瑶族自治县Jinxiu Yao autonomous county in Laibin 來賓|来宾[Láibīn], Guangxi金秀瑤族自治縣
连南瑶族自治县Liannan Yao Autonomous County in Qingyuan 清遠|清远[Qīngyuǎn], Guangdong連南瑤族自治縣
富川瑶族自治县Fuchuan Yao autonomous county in Hezhou 賀州|贺州[Hèzhōu], Guangxi富川瑤族自治縣
金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县Jinping Miao, Yao and Dai autonomous county in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture 紅河哈尼族彞族自治州|红河哈尼族彝族自治州[HónghéHānízúYízúZìzhìzhōu], Yunnan金平苗族瑤族傣族自治縣
河口瑶族自治县Hekou Yaozu autonomous county in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture 紅河哈尼族彞族自治州|红河哈尼族彝族自治州[HónghéHānízúYízúZìzhìzhōu], Yunnan河口瑤族自治縣
连山壮族瑶族自治县Lianshan Zhuang and Yao autonomous county in Qingyuan 清远, Guangdong連山壯族瑤族自治縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瑶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瑤
瑤 is pronounced as 'yáo', with a rising tone similar to questioning intonation in English.
While 瑤 primarily refers to jade, it can also describe anything that is precious or beautiful, invoking the same sense of value.
瑤 is more commonly found in literary contexts and poetry rather than in everyday conversation.
