unknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #91865, Very Hard
yáo(yao2)yao T2
1cooked or prepared meat
2mixed viands
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March 24, 2026
肴(殽)yáo(yao2)
肴 (yáo) refers to prepared or cooked meat, typically served as part of a meal. It can also denote mixed dishes or viands, showcasing the variety of food in Chinese cuisine. This character is often associated with the concept of flavorful and well-prepared dishes in culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#91865DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is a significant aspect of social gatherings and celebrations. The term 肴 emphasizes the importance of carefully prepared dishes, which often play a central role in family banquets and festivals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef (the radical 肉, meaning 'meat') expertly preparing a feast. The character 肴 looks like the chef is holding a plate of delicious cooked meat, and 'yáo' sounds like 'yowl,' which you might do when you smell something irresistibly good cooking.
Meanings of 肴
yáo(yao2)
1cooked or prepared meat
2mixed viands
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 肴 means.
About 肴
肴Simplified
殽Traditional
8Strokes
⺼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肴
Podcast: 肴
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AI Study Notes for 肴
Quick Contrast
肉 (ròu, meat) vs 菜 (cài, vegetables) — choose 肴 when referring specifically to prepared meat dishes, while 肴 encompasses a broader range of mixed or cooked foods.
Usage Notes
肴 is more commonly used in written language or formal contexts, particularly in culinary descriptions. Common collocations include 肴菜 (yáo cài), meaning 'prepared dishes.' Be mindful of the tone, as the character is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 肴 is not included in the HSK levels, students at HSK 4 and above will benefit from understanding food-related vocabulary. Focus on the context of meals and cooking when learning this character, as it enriches conversational skills in dining situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肴 with similar-sounding words like 遭 (zāo). For example, mistakenly saying '我喜欢遭菜' (wǒ xǐhuān zāo cài) instead of '我喜欢肴菜' (wǒ xǐhuān yáo cài) to express liking prepared dishes can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肴
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How Well Do You Know 肴?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 肴 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
肴 = ⺼ + 乂. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 肴
IDS Structure⿱乂有
肴Full Character
=
乂yi4
top
有you3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 肴?
How to say cooked or prepared meat in Chinese
“cooked or prepared meat” in Chinese is肴yáo
肴 (yáo) refers to prepared or cooked meat, typically served as part of a meal. It can also denote mixed dishes or viands, showcasing the variety of food in Chinese cuisine. This character is often associated with the concept of flavorful and well-prepared dishes in culinary contexts.
When to use 肴
肴 is more commonly used in written language or formal contexts, particularly in culinary descriptions. Common collocations include 肴菜 (yáo cài), meaning 'prepared dishes.' Be mindful of the tone, as the character is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
肴 or something close to it
肉 (ròu, meat) vs 菜 (cài, vegetables) — choose 肴 when referring specifically to prepared meat dishes, while 肴 encompasses a broader range of mixed or cooked foods.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 肴 with similar-sounding words like 遭 (zāo). For example, mistakenly saying '我喜欢遭菜' (wǒ xǐhuān zāo cài) instead of '我喜欢肴菜' (wǒ xǐhuān yáo cài) to express liking prepared dishes can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 肴
肴
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Practice writing 肴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 肴
肴 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
晚饭就着鲜脆的色拉尝尝这道佳____。
Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad.
