Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
窑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
窑yáokiln, oven; pit, coal mineHSK 7, n, 11 strokes, radical 穴, rank #20812, Hard
窑yáocoal pitHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 穴, rank #20812, Hard
窑yáocave dwellingHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 穴, rank #20812, Hard
窑yáo(coll.) brothelHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 穴, rank #20812, Hard
yáo(yao2) T2
  1. 1kiln, oven; pit, coal mine
  2. 2coal pit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

窑(窯)yáo(yao2)

The character 窑 (yáo) primarily refers to a kiln or oven, a structure used for firing pottery or bricks. It can also describe a coal pit or cave dwelling, and in colloquial contexts, it may imply a brothel. Its usage is often tied to industries involving heat and construction, as well as traditional living environments.

Strokes11Radical穴Frequency#20812DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, kilns (窑) played a crucial role in pottery production, especially in regions like Jingdezhen, known for its porcelain. The evolution of kiln technology reflects the historical significance of ceramics in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, fiery oven (窑) where clay pots are made. The character looks like a 'house' (宀) with a 'fire' (火) inside, symbolizing a place where heat is essential — a kiln. You can remember the sound 'yáo' by picturing someone yelling 'Yow!' as they get too close to the hot oven.

Meanings of 窑

yáo(yao2)
1kiln, oven; pit, coal mine
2coal pit
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 窑

窑Simplified
窯Traditional
11Strokes
穴Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 窑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 窑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 窑

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large, fiery oven (窑) where clay pots are made. The character looks like a 'house' (宀) with a 'fire' (火) inside, symbolizing a place where heat is essential — a kiln. You can remember the sound 'yáo' by picturing someone yelling 'Yow!' as they get too close to the hot oven.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 窑 with similar characters due to its specific context. It's more common in informal settings when referring to brothels, while in formal contexts, it is used for kilns or ovens. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can completely change the word's meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 窑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other characters related to construction and industry. Students should focus on recognizing the character's structure and its various meanings to better understand contextual usage.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, kilns (窑) played a crucial role in pottery production, especially in regions like Jingdezhen, known for its porcelain. The evolution of kiln technology reflects the historical significance of ceramics in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 窑 with the character for 'house' (家) due to the similar structure. Remember that 窑 specifically indicates a place for heat and production, not just a dwelling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 窑

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 窑 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 窑

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

An oven 穴 where pots 缶 are fired; 缶 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 窑?

Decomposition of 窑

IDS Structure⿱穴缶
窑Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
缶fou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 窑?

Write 窑

窑

Practice writing 窑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 窑

窑 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

砖是在____里烧成的.

Bricks are baked in a kiln.

Example Sentences for 窑 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
砖是在窑里烧成的.

zhuān shì zài yáo lǐ shāo chéng de.

Bricks are baked in a kiln.
2
砖和陶器都是在窑中烧成的.

zhuān hé táo qì dū shì zài yáo zhōng shāo chéng de.

Bricks and earthware articles are baked in kilns.
3
现座落于干窑镇镇北路小窑港畔.

xiàn zuò luò yú gān yáo zhèn zhèn běi lù xiǎo yáo gǎng pàn.

Dry kiln is located in a small kiln Harbor Town, River North.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Bricks are baked in a kiln.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 窑

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, kilns (窑) played a crucial role in pottery production, especially in regions like Jingdezhen, known for its porcelain. The evolution of kiln technology reflects the historical significance of ceramics in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 窑

Words Containing This Character7
窑yáokiln窯
土窑earthen kiln土窯
窑洞CL:孔[kǒng]窯洞
窑子(old) low-grade brothel窯子
窑姐(dialect) prostitute窯姐
砖窑场brick kiln磚窯場
破瓦寒窑poor and shabby dwelling破瓦寒窯
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 窑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 窑

It can mean kiln, oven, coal pit, cave dwelling, or colloquially, brothel.