Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
躁zào(zao4)
The character '躁' (zào) refers to a state of being hot-tempered, impatient, or irritable. It is often used to describe someone who is restless or agitated, lacking calmness or composure in their behavior. This term can apply to both emotional states and physical sensations of tension.
Strokes20Radical足Frequency#15124DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being '躁' is often viewed negatively, as calmness and patience are highly valued traits. The concept of '心静' (xīnjìng, calm heart) is frequently emphasized in traditional teachings and practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hot pot bubbling over (the '火' radical for fire) because someone is too impatient to wait for it to cool down. The word '躁' sounds like 'zào', which can remind you of a 'hot' situation where emotions boil over.
Meanings of 躁
zào(zao4)
1hot-tempered
2impatient
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 躁
躁Simplified
20Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15124Frequency Rank
Podcast: 躁
Podcast: 躁
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 躁
Quick Contrast
烦 (fán, annoyed) - use 躁 (zào) when emphasizing restlessness or agitation, while 烦 (fán) focuses more on annoyance or irritation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a hot pot bubbling over (the '火' radical for fire) because someone is too impatient to wait for it to cool down. The word '躁' sounds like 'zào', which can remind you of a 'hot' situation where emotions boil over.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using '躁' in formal contexts, as it can imply a negative connotation. Commonly paired with phrases like '躁动' (zàodòng, restless) or '躁郁' (zàoyù, irritable), it can also be mistaken for '躁急' (zàojí, impatient), which has a slightly different nuance. Pay attention to tone, as using the wrong tone can alter the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although '躁' is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other emotional terms at an advanced level. Students should focus on recognizing and using it in context to describe feelings or behaviors, linking it to words like '情绪' (qíngxù, emotion) and '急' (jí, urgent).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being '躁' is often viewed negatively, as calmness and patience are highly valued traits. The concept of '心静' (xīnjìng, calm heart) is frequently emphasized in traditional teachings and practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '躁' with '躁急' (impatient) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很躁急' (wǒ hěn zàojí) instead of '我很躁' (wǒ hěn zào) can lead to misunderstandings about the intensity of the feeling.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 躁
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 躁 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 躁 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 躁
躁 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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
这些天我有点焦____。我看是荷尔蒙在作怪。
I get a bit uptight these days. Hormones, I suppose.
I get a bit uptight these days. Hormones, I suppose.
2
柯林斯在采访还没开始时就暴躁不安起来。
kē lín sī zài cǎi fǎng huán méi kāi shǐ shí jiù bào zào bù ān qǐ lái。
Collins was in a foul mood even before the interviews began.
3
孩子们疲倦时易烦躁好哭。
hái zǐ mén pí juàn shí yì fán zào hǎo kū。
Children often get fractious and tearful when tired.
4
长牙会很难受，婴儿会烦躁不安。
cháng yá huì hěn nán shòu， ， yīng ér huì fán zào bù。
Teething can be painful and make your baby irritable.
5
表面看上去沉默不语，其实内心非常烦躁不安，他的情况糟透了。
biǎo miàn kàn shàng qù chén mò bù yǔ， ， qí shí nèi xīn fēi cháng fán zào bù， ān ， tā de qíng kuàng zāo。
Behind that quietness his nerves are jangling, he's in a terrible state.
6
他表现出焦躁不安和过度忧虑的症状。
tā biǎo xiàn chū jiāo zào bù ān hé guò dù yōu lǜ de zhèng zhuàng。
He has exhibited symptoms of anxiety and overwhelming worry.
7
那位脾气暴躁的女演员踢了他的小腿。
nà wèi pí qì bào zào de nǚ yǎn yuán tī le tā de xiǎo tuǐ。
The fiery actress kicked him in the shins.
8
他觉得很烦躁,把头伸进了冷水中.
tā jué dé hěn fán zào, , bǎ tóu shēn jìn le lěng shuǐ.
He felt fidgety and immersed his head in the cold water.
9
她突然变得激动狂躁，四处乱跳还大喊大叫。
tā tū rán biàn dé jī dòng kuáng zào， ， sì chǔ luàn tiào huán dà hǎn dà。
She suddenly became very vehement and agitated, jumping around and shouting.
10
当航班由于空中交通问题而延误时，人们变得异常烦躁起来。
dāng háng bān yóu yú kōng zhōng jiāo tōng wèn tí ér yán wù shí， ， rén mén biàn dé yì cháng fán zào qǐ。
Nerves became severely frayed when air traffic problems delayed the flight.
Cultural Notes for 躁
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being '躁' is often viewed negatively, as calmness and patience are highly valued traits. The concept of '心静' (xīnjìng, calm heart) is frequently emphasized in traditional teachings and practices.
Word Family of 躁
Words Containing This Character11
烦躁fánzàojittery煩躁
暴躁bàozàoirascible
躁zàoimpatient
急躁jízàoirritable
浮躁fúzàorestless
焦躁jiāozàofretful
狂躁rash
躁动commotion躁動
戒骄戒躁to guard against pride and impatience (idiom); to remain modest and keep cool戒驕戒躁
躁狂症mania
少安毋躁don't be impatient
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 烦躁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 躁
'躁动' (restless) and '躁郁' (irritable) are commonly used phrases that describe feelings of agitation.
'躁' is primarily used for emotional states, but it can also refer to a physical sense of restlessness or agitation.
Yes, '躁' generally carries a negative connotation, indicating impatience or irritability.
