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March 24, 2026
饶(饒)ráo(Rao2)
The character 饶 (ráo) primarily means to forgive or to spare, often used in contexts of leniency or generosity. It can also imply abundance, suggesting richness or exuberance in a variety of situations, such as describing plentiful resources or a generous act. This character is versatile and may appear in both formal and informal contexts, depending on its usage.
Strokes9Radical饣Frequency#5139DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of forgiveness is significant, often emphasized in familial and social relationships. The idea of sparing someone or adding to their experience, as represented by 饶, reflects the cultural value placed on harmony and generosity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a generous banquet (饶) filled with abundant food. The character's left side, 饣, resembles a table with dishes, and the right side, 交, can evoke the idea of sharing those dishes with others. Think of the sound 'ráo' as a welcoming invitation to enjoy this feast, where everyone is forgiven for taking extra helpings.
Meanings of 饶
ráo(Rao2)
1rich
2abundant
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 饶
饶Simplified
饒Traditional
9Strokes
饣Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5139Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 饶
Podcast: 饶
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AI Study Notes for 饶
Quick Contrast
宽恕 (kuānshù, to forgive) is more formal and specifically refers to the act of forgiveness, while 饶 (ráo) can imply a broader sense of leniency or abundance.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 饶 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. It is important to note its formal and informal uses; for example, using it in a business context might require a more formal tone. Common collocations include 饶恕 (ráoshù - to forgive) and 饶有 (ráoyǒu - rich in). Watch out for the third tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 饶 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to HSK Level 5 or 6 due to its abstract meanings. Students should focus on context and collocations with verbs to enhance their understanding. Exploring synonyms like 赦免 (shèmiǎn - to pardon) can also deepen comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 饶 with 饶恕 (ráoshù) and mistakenly use them interchangeably when discussing forgiveness. For example, saying '我饶了他' (Wǒ ráo le tā - I forgave him) instead of '我饶恕了他' (Wǒ ráoshù le tā) can lead to confusion about the formal nature of the action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 饶
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How Well Do You Know 饶?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 饶 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.
饶 = 饣 + 尧. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 饶
IDS Structure⿰饣尧
饶Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
尧Yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 饶?
How to say rich in Chinese
“rich” in Chinese is饶ráo
The character 饶 (ráo) primarily means to forgive or to spare, often used in contexts of leniency or generosity. It can also imply abundance, suggesting richness or exuberance in a variety of situations, such as describing plentiful resources or a generous act. This character is versatile and may appear in both formal and informal contexts, depending on its usage.
When to use 饶
Learners often confuse 饶 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect meanings. It is important to note its formal and informal uses; for example, using it in a business context might require a more formal tone. Common collocations include 饶恕 (ráoshù - to forgive) and 饶有 (ráoyǒu - rich in). Watch out for the third tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
饶 or something close to it
宽恕 (kuānshù, to forgive) is more formal and specifically refers to the act of forgiveness, while 饶 (ráo) can imply a broader sense of leniency or abundance.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 饶 with 饶恕 (ráoshù) and mistakenly use them interchangeably when discussing forgiveness. For example, saying '我饶了他' (Wǒ ráo le tā - I forgave him) instead of '我饶恕了他' (Wǒ ráoshù le tā) can lead to confusion about the formal nature of the action.
Write 饶
饶
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Practice writing 饶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 饶
饶 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 11 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.
我____有兴致地阅读了杰曼·格里尔在三月那期发表的文章。
I read Germaine Greer's article in the March issue with particular interest.
Example Sentences for 饶 (10)
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1
我饶有兴致地阅读了杰曼·格里尔在三月那期发表的文章。
wǒ ráo yǒu xīng zhì dì yuè dú le jié màn· · gé lǐ ěr zài sān yuè nà qī fā biǎo de wén。
I read Germaine Greer's article in the March issue with particular interest.
