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酪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
酪
lào
cream, cheese; koumiss
nz, 13 strokes, radical 酉, rank #11970, Very Hard
酪
lào
curdled milk or fruit juice
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 酉, rank #11970, Very Hard
酪
lào
also pr. [luo4]
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 酉, rank #11970, Very Hard
lào(lao4)lao T4
1cream, cheese; koumiss
2curdled milk or fruit juice
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March 24, 2026
酪lào(lao4)
The character 酪 (lào) refers to dairy products like cream and cheese, as well as fermented beverages such as koumiss. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing dairy processing or specific food items derived from milk.
Strokes13Radical酉Frequency#11970DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, dairy products like cheese are less common compared to Western cultures, so the character 酪 may not be as familiar. However, with the rise of Western influence, items like cheese are becoming more integrated into modern diets in urban areas.
Memory tip
Imagine a cow (representing dairy) happily lounging in a field of cream. The character 酪 has the radical for 'food' (食) at the bottom, reminding you it relates to edible products. Picture the cow saying 'Lào!' as it enjoys its creamy treat to remember the pronunciation.
Meanings of 酪
lào(lao4)
1cream, cheese; koumiss
2curdled milk or fruit juice
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 酪 means.
About 酪
酪Simplified
13Strokes
酉Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 酪
Podcast: 酪
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AI study notes for 酪
Quick Contrast
酪 (lào) vs 奶 (nǎi) — use 酪 specifically for fermented dairy products or specialized items, while 奶 refers to milk in general.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the pronunciation, as it can be confused with the similar-sounding character ‘落’ (luò), which means 'to fall.' This word is generally used in more formal contexts, especially in culinary discussions, so it's best to avoid it in casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 酪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other food-related terms at higher levels. Students should focus on understanding its usage in food contexts and how it relates to other dairy and fermentation terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 酪 (lào) with other dairy-related words or similar-sounding characters. For instance, saying '我喜欢酪' (wǒ xǐhuān lào) without context may sound odd; it's better to specify '我喜欢奶酪' (wǒ xǐhuān nǎilào) for 'I like cheese.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酪
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Knowing 酪 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.
酪 = 酉 + 各. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 酪
IDS Structure⿰酉各
酪Full character
=
酉you3
left
各ge4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 酪?
How to say cream, cheese; koumiss in Chinese
“cream, cheese; koumiss” in Chinese is酪lào
The character 酪 (lào) refers to dairy products like cream and cheese, as well as fermented beverages such as koumiss. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing dairy processing or specific food items derived from milk.
When to use 酪
Be mindful of the pronunciation, as it can be confused with the similar-sounding character ‘落’ (luò), which means 'to fall.' This word is generally used in more formal contexts, especially in culinary discussions, so it's best to avoid it in casual conversations.
酪 or something close to it
酪 (lào) vs 奶 (nǎi) — use 酪 specifically for fermented dairy products or specialized items, while 奶 refers to milk in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 酪 (lào) with other dairy-related words or similar-sounding characters. For instance, saying '我喜欢酪' (wǒ xǐhuān lào) without context may sound odd; it's better to specify '我喜欢奶酪' (wǒ xǐhuān nǎilào) for 'I like cheese.'
Write 酪
酪
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Practice writing 酪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 酪
酪 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 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
Using 2 spoons, mould the cheese mixture into small balls or ovals.
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Cultural Notes for 酪
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in Western cultures where cheese is a staple, traditional Chinese cuisine has historically relied less on dairy, making the concept of 酪 relatively niche.
Word Family of 酪
Words containing this character6
奶酪cheese
乳酪cheese
干酪cheese乾酪
酪làoalso pr. [luò]
酪氨酸tyrosine (Tyr), an amino acid
酪蛋白casein (milk protein)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 酪
What does 奶酪 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 酪
Pay attention to the context; 酪 specifically refers to dairy products, while characters like 落 (luò) have different meanings.
It's typically used in more specific contexts related to food and may not come up in casual discussions.
Yes, in some regions, dairy is more popular, and you may hear this term more frequently than in areas where dairy consumption is limited.
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