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韶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
韶sháosurname Shaounknown, 14 strokes, radical 音, rank #70111, Very Hard
韶sháoexcellentunknown, 14 strokes, radical 音, rank #70111, Very Hard
韶sháoharmoniousunknown, 14 strokes, radical 音, rank #70111, Very Hard
韶sháobeautiful, excellent, harmonious; music from the Shun dynastyns, 14 strokes, radical 音, rank #70111, Very Hard
sháo(Shao2)shao T2
  1. 1surname Shao
  2. 2excellent
Also a Chinese surname, Shao — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

韶sháo(Shao2)

The character 韶 (sháo) primarily denotes beauty and excellence, often associated with harmonious music from the Shun dynasty. It can also serve as a surname and is used in contexts where exceptional quality or harmony is emphasized.

Strokes14Radical音Frequency#70111DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 韶 is often linked to the aesthetic appreciation of music and poetry, particularly in the context of the ancient Shun dynasty, which is celebrated for its contributions to harmonious governance and the arts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful melody (音乐, yīn yuè) wafting through the air, symbolizing harmony and excellence. The character 韶 looks like a musical note dancing under a sun (日) that represents brightness and beauty, helping you remember that it conveys a sense of beautiful music.

Meanings of 韶

sháo(Shao2)
1excellent
2harmonious
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 韶 means.

About 韶

韶Simplified
14Strokes
音Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 韶

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Podcast: 韶

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AI Study Notes for 韶

Usage Notes

When using 韶, it's important to note that it is more formal and poetic, often reserved for literary or artistic contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '韶光' (sháo guāng, the beauty of youth) and '韶乐' (sháo yuè, harmonious music). Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 韶 is not included in the HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners to explore it alongside other characters related to music and beauty, such as 美 (měi) for beauty and 乐 (lè) for music. Focus on understanding its cultural significance and usage in classical literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 韶 with similar sounding characters like 绍 (shào), which means 'to introduce.' For example, saying '韶你见过吗?' (Have you seen 韶?) instead of '绍你见过吗?' (Have you been introduced to them?) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 韶

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Etymology of 韶

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Imperial 召 music 音; 召 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 韶?

Decomposition of 韶

IDS Structure⿰音召
韶Full Character
=
音yin1
left
召Shao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 韶?

How to say surname Shao in Chinese

“surname Shao” in Chinese is韶sháo

The character 韶 (sháo) primarily denotes beauty and excellence, often associated with harmonious music from the Shun dynasty. It can also serve as a surname and is used in contexts where exceptional quality or harmony is emphasized.

When to use 韶

When using 韶, it's important to note that it is more formal and poetic, often reserved for literary or artistic contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '韶光' (sháo guāng, the beauty of youth) and '韶乐' (sháo yuè, harmonious music). Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 韶 with similar sounding characters like 绍 (shào), which means 'to introduce.' For example, saying '韶你见过吗?' (Have you seen 韶?) instead of '绍你见过吗?' (Have you been introduced to them?) is incorrect.

Write 韶

韶

Practice writing 韶 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 韶

韶 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

李宇春喜欢歌手马丁里奇,张____涵喜欢 张惠妹.

Such as Li Yuchun likes Ricky Martin. Angela Chang likes A - Mei .

Example Sentences for 韶 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
李宇春喜欢歌手马丁里奇,张韶涵喜欢 张惠妹.

lǐ yǔ chūn xǐ huān gē shǒu mǎ dīng lǐ qí, , zhāng sháo hán xǐ huān zhāng.

Such as Li Yuchun likes Ricky Martin. Angela Chang likes A - Mei .

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Word Family of 韶

Words Containing This Character8
韶关Shaoguan prefecture level city in Guangdong韶關
韶sháo(music)
韶山Shaoshan county level city in Xiangtan 湘潭[Xiāng​tán], Hunan
张韶涵Angela Chang (1982-), Taiwanese pop singer and actress張韶涵
韶关市Shaoguan prefecture level city in Guangdong province韶關市
仰韶文化Yangshao neolithic culture from the central Yellow river basin, with red and black pottery
韶山市Shaoshan county level city in Xiangtan 湘潭[Xiāng​tán], Hunan
韶关地区Shaoguan prefecture in Guangdong韶關地區
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 韶

What does 韶关 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 韶

It refers to the beautiful music attributed to the Shun dynasty, symbolizing harmony and excellence in Chinese history.

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