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March 24, 2026
蕉jiāo(jiao1)
蕉 (jiāo) primarily refers to the banana plant and its fruit. It is commonly used in the context of discussing tropical fruits and cuisine, particularly in regions where bananas are prevalent. The character may also appear in various compound words related to bananas, emphasizing its significance in Chinese botanical and culinary discussions.
Strokes15Radical艹Frequency#41208DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, bananas are not only a popular snack but also symbolize good luck and fertility. They are often given as gifts during festivals or visits, reflecting their positive connotations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant banana (蕉) growing from a tree. The character looks like a banana hanging from a branch, and the 'jiāo' sounds like 'jowl', which rhymes with 'bowl', where bananas are often served. Picture a bowl overflowing with bananas to remember the word.
Meanings of 蕉
jiāo(jiao1)
primary
1banana
2banana, plantain
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 蕉
蕉Simplified
15Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#41208Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 蕉
Podcast: 蕉
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AI Study Notes for 蕉
Usage Notes
When using 蕉, be cautious with the tone; it's pronounced with a first tone (jiāo). It is often found in compound phrases like 蕉萃 (qiáo cuì), which refers to a specific type of banana. The character is more common in informal contexts, especially in culinary discussions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蕉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to food and plants. Students should focus on recognizing its use in compound words and practice pronunciation, especially the initial 'j' sound.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蕉 with similar characters like 椰 (yē), which means coconut. A common mistake is saying '椰' when referring to bananas; remember to use '蕉' for bananas.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蕉
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How Well Do You Know 蕉?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蕉 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.
蕉 = 艹 + 焦. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蕉
IDS Structure⿱艹焦
蕉Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
焦Jiao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蕉?
How to say banana in Chinese
“banana” in Chinese is蕉jiāo
蕉 (jiāo) primarily refers to the banana plant and its fruit. It is commonly used in the context of discussing tropical fruits and cuisine, particularly in regions where bananas are prevalent. The character may also appear in various compound words related to bananas, emphasizing its significance in Chinese botanical and culinary discussions.
When to use 蕉
When using 蕉, be cautious with the tone; it's pronounced with a first tone (jiāo). It is often found in compound phrases like 蕉萃 (qiáo cuì), which refers to a specific type of banana. The character is more common in informal contexts, especially in culinary discussions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蕉 with similar characters like 椰 (yē), which means coconut. A common mistake is saying '椰' when referring to bananas; remember to use '蕉' for bananas.
Write 蕉
蕉
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Grammar Patterns of 蕉
蕉 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.
Annual Xia Qiu, pomegranate, orange, banana, grape hangs full branch.
7
把香蕉竖着切成两半。
bǎ xiāng jiāo shù zháo qiē chéng liǎng bàn。
Cut the banana in half lengthways.
8
香蕉一年收两喷.
xiāng jiāo yī nián shōu liǎng pēn.
The banana bears two crops every year.
9
不, 它们笨得令人难以置信,它们把香蕉和皮一起吞下去.
bù, , tā mén bèn dé líng rén nán yǐ zhì, xìn , tā mén bǎ xiāng jiāo hé pí yī qǐ tūn.
No, they're incredibly stupid. They swallow bananas with peels.
10
您要买些香蕉 、 梨和苹果 吗 ?
nín yào mǎi xiē xiāng jiāo、 、 lí hé píng guǒ?
Do you want to buy some bananas, pears and apples?
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Cultural Notes for 蕉
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, bananas are often associated with good fortune and happiness. Giving bananas as gifts is common, especially during festivals.
Word Family of 蕉
Compounds2
櫵
爑
Words Containing This Character8
香蕉xiāngjiāobanana
蕉jiāobanana
芭蕉Japanese banana (Musa basjoo)
美人蕉canna or Indian shot (genus Canna)
蕉岭Jiaoling county in Meizhou 梅州, Guangdong蕉嶺
蕉城区Jiaocheng district of Ningde city 寧德市|宁德市[Níngdéshì], Fujian蕉城區
蕉岭县Jiaoling county in Meizhou 梅州, Guangdong蕉嶺縣
蕉城Jiaocheng district of Ningde city 寧德市|宁德市[Níngdéshì], Fujian
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 蕉
What does 香蕉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蕉
In Chinese, 蕉 can refer to different types of bananas, including the common dessert banana and the plantain. The term 蕉萃 (qiáo cuì) specifically refers to banana extracts or products. Understanding these distinctions can help in discussions about food and cooking.
You can use 蕉 (jiāo) in various contexts related to bananas. For example, '我喜欢吃香蕉' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī xiāngjiāo) means 'I like to eat bananas.' This demonstrates its use as a noun referring to the fruit.
蕉 (jiāo, qiáo) primarily means 'banana' in Chinese. It can also refer to the plantain, which is a type of banana. The character is often used in conjunction with other terms like 蕉萃 (qiáo cuì), which denotes products derived from bananas.
The correct pronunciation is 'jiāo' with a high, even tone.
Yes, there are several varieties of bananas, including plantains, which may be referred to as 蕉 in different contexts.
While 蕉 is more commonly used in informal contexts, it can appear in formal botanical or culinary texts.
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