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霄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
霄
xiāo
clouds, mist; sky
nr, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #57596, Very Hard
霄
xiāo
firmament
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #57596, Very Hard
霄
xiāo
heaven
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #57596, Very Hard
xiāo(xiao1)xiao T1
1clouds, mist; sky
2firmament
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March 24, 2026
霄xiāo(xiao1)
The character 霄 (xiāo) primarily refers to the sky or heavens, often associated with clouds and mist. It conveys a sense of grandeur and expansiveness, and can be used in literary contexts to evoke beauty or serenity. You might encounter this character in poetry or discussions about nature.
Strokes15Radical雨Frequency#57596DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
霄 is often used in Chinese poetry to evoke the vastness and beauty of the sky, reflecting a cultural appreciation for nature. Festivals like the Lantern Festival celebrate the beauty of the night sky, underscoring the significance of celestial imagery in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine looking up at the sky (霄) filled with fluffy clouds, floating like soft cotton. The character has the radical for 'rain' (雨), hinting at weather, while the component '肖' sounds like 'xiāo', making it easier to remember that this word relates to the sky and clouds.
Meanings of 霄
xiāo(xiao1)
1clouds, mist; sky
2firmament
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 霄
霄Simplified
15Strokes
雨Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 霄
Podcast: 霄
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AI study notes for 霄
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; xiāo is pronounced with a high level tone (first tone), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. In informal contexts, you may hear it used poetically, while formal usage often appears in literature or classical texts. Common collocations include phrases that describe beautiful skies.
HSK Study Tips
While 霄 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary, it’s beneficial for learners aiming for HSK level 5 and above, especially those focusing on literary language. Connecting it with related words like '天' (tiān, sky) and '云' (yún, cloud) can deepen understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 霄 (xiāo) with similar characters like '桥' (qiáo, bridge) due to phonetic similarities. Remember, 霄 relates to the sky and has a first tone, while '桥' has a second tone and means bridge.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 霄
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The character 霄 (xiāo) primarily refers to the sky or heavens, often associated with clouds and mist. It conveys a sense of grandeur and expansiveness, and can be used in literary contexts to evoke beauty or serenity. You might encounter this character in poetry or discussions about nature.
When to use 霄
Be cautious with the tone; xiāo is pronounced with a high level tone (first tone), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. In informal contexts, you may hear it used poetically, while formal usage often appears in literature or classical texts. Common collocations include phrases that describe beautiful skies.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 霄 (xiāo) with similar characters like '桥' (qiáo, bridge) due to phonetic similarities. Remember, 霄 relates to the sky and has a first tone, while '桥' has a second tone and means bridge.
Write 霄
霄
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Practice writing 霄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 霄
霄 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.
他被她迷得神魂颠倒，连孩子都抛到了九____云外。
He became so besotted with her that even his children were forgotten.
Example sentences for 霄 (16)
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1
他被她迷得神魂颠倒，连孩子都抛到了九霄云外。
tā bèi tā mí de shén hún diāndǎo， lián háizi dōu pāo dào le jiǔ xiāo yún wài。
He became so besotted with her that even his children were forgotten.
