unknown, 10 strokes, radical 车, rank #47406, Very Hard
轿
jiào
a palanquin
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 车, rank #47406, Very Hard
轿
jiào
a litter
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 车, rank #47406, Very Hard
jiào(jiao4) T4
1sedan-chair, palanquin, litter
2a sedan chair
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March 24, 2026
轿(轎)jiào(jiao4)
轿 (jiào) refers to a traditional form of transportation, specifically a sedan chair or palanquin that is carried by bearers. It was commonly used in ancient China for transporting people, particularly women of high status, and is often associated with historical and cultural contexts.
Strokes10Radical车Frequency#47406DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The 轿 was a symbol of status and elegance in ancient China, often seen in imperial ceremonies and during weddings. Its usage reflects the customs surrounding social hierarchy and the importance of display in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'jiao' (轿) as a fancy carriage that glides smoothly on the road. The character features '车' (chē) for 'vehicle' at the bottom, reminding you it's a mode of transport, while the top part can be visualized as a canopy, protecting the person inside.
Meanings of 轿
jiào(jiao4)
1sedan-chair, palanquin, litter
2a sedan chair
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 轿
轿Simplified
轎Traditional
10Strokes
车Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 轿
Podcast: 轿
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AI Study Notes for 轿
Quick Contrast
轿子 (jiàozǐ) - refers to a similar concept of a sedan chair but is more colloquial; 轿 is more formal and literary.
Usage Notes
轿 is typically used in formal or historical contexts, so it might not be common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other types of vehicles; collocations like '轿车' (sedan car) can be misleading as '轿' alone refers specifically to the palanquin. Remember to use it in appropriate settings.
HSK Study Tips
轿 is not included in HSK levels but can be related to other transportation-related vocabulary in beginner levels, such as '车' (chē, vehicle) and '坐' (zuò, to sit). Focus on recognizing the character's components to connect it with other transport terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 轿 with 车, thinking they are interchangeable when they are not. For example, saying '我坐轿去' (I take a palanquin to go) in a modern context is incorrect; it would be more appropriate to use '车' (car) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 轿
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1The giveawayA lofty 乔 carriage 车; 乔 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 轿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 轿?
Decomposition of 轿
IDS Structure⿰车乔
轿Full Character
=
车Che1
left
乔Qiao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 轿?
How to say sedan-chair, palanquin, litter in Chinese
“sedan-chair, palanquin, litter” in Chinese is轿jiào
轿 (jiào) refers to a traditional form of transportation, specifically a sedan chair or palanquin that is carried by bearers. It was commonly used in ancient China for transporting people, particularly women of high status, and is often associated with historical and cultural contexts.
When to use 轿
轿 is typically used in formal or historical contexts, so it might not be common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other types of vehicles; collocations like '轿车' (sedan car) can be misleading as '轿' alone refers specifically to the palanquin. Remember to use it in appropriate settings.
轿 or something close to it
轿子 (jiàozǐ) - refers to a similar concept of a sedan chair but is more colloquial; 轿 is more formal and literary.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 轿 with 车, thinking they are interchangeable when they are not. For example, saying '我坐轿去' (I take a palanquin to go) in a modern context is incorrect; it would be more appropriate to use '车' (car) instead.
Write 轿
轿
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Practice writing 轿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 轿
轿 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
这辆____车比原先的车型短了约40毫米。
The car is some 40mm shorter than its predecessor.
Example Sentences for 轿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这辆轿车比原先的车型短了约40毫米。
zhè liàng jiào chē bǐ yuán xiān de chē xíng duǎn le yuē40 40 háo。
The car is some 40mm shorter than its predecessor.
2
他们的轿车和一辆铰接式货车迎面相撞了。
tā mén de jiào chē hé yī liàng jiǎo jiē shì huò chē yíng miàn xiāng zhuàng le。
Their car was in a head-on smash with an articulated lorry.
