to connect; to deliver, to exchange; to intersect; to mix
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 亠, rank #863, Medium
jiāo(jiao1) T1
1to hand over
2to deliver
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March 24, 2026
交jiāo(jiao1)
The character 交 (jiāo) primarily means 'to hand over' or 'to deliver,' and is commonly used in contexts involving exchanging items or information. It also carries the connotation of forming friendships or connections, reflecting the social aspect of interaction. Additionally, it can refer to the intersection of lines, indicating a physical or metaphorical crossing point.
Strokes6Radical亠Frequency#863DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of making friends (交朋友) is highly valued, often seen as essential for both personal and professional growth. Networking plays a significant role in many aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of social connections.
Memory Tip
Imagine a handshake as a vivid representation of 交 (jiāo), where two hands meet and exchange something valuable, symbolizing friendship and connection. The character itself features the radical '亻' (person) on the left, hinting at social interactions, while the right part '交' resembles two crossing lines, reinforcing the idea of intersection.
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AI Study Notes for 交
Quick Contrast
交 (jiāo) vs 交换 (jiāo huàn) — use 交 for more general exchanges and social interactions, while 交换 specifically emphasizes the act of swapping items.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a handshake as a vivid representation of 交 (jiāo), where two hands meet and exchange something valuable, symbolizing friendship and connection. The character itself features the radical '亻' (person) on the left, hinting at social interactions, while the right part '交' resembles two crossing lines, reinforcing the idea of intersection.
Usage Notes
When using 交, be careful with its tone; the first tone is crucial, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, such as 交朋友 (make friends) or 交款 (pay money). Common collocations include 交际 (social interaction) and 交叉 (intersect).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 交 connects well with other verbs related to social interactions, like 认识 (to know) and 交流 (to communicate). Students should focus on its various meanings in different contexts to enhance their vocabulary flexibility and comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of making friends (交朋友) is highly valued, often seen as essential for both personal and professional growth. Networking plays a significant role in many aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of social connections.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 交 with other similar-sounding words, such as 脚 (jiǎo) meaning 'foot'. A common mistake is saying 交朋友 (jiāo péngyǒu) with the wrong tone, which can lead to misunderstandings about making friends.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 交
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Grammar Patterns of 交
交 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 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Lorenzo was a natural leader who made friends easily.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.
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Cultural Notes for 交
💡Did you know?
'交' not only means to make friends but also reflects the importance of relationships in Chinese culture, where social connections are highly valued.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of making friends (交朋友) is highly valued, often seen as essential for both personal and professional growth. Networking plays a significant role in many aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of social connections.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, friendships often develop more gradually, while in Chinese culture, the emphasis on networking and forming connections can lead to friendships being established through more formal introductions or social obligations.
Word Family of 交
Compounds40
校jiao4to proofread
效xiao4variant of 傚
较jiao4comparatively
咬yao3to bite
胶jiao1to glue
狡jiao3crafty
郊Jiao1surname Jiao
跤jiao1to tumble, to fall; to wrestle
绞jiao3intertwined; to twist, to wring; to hang a criminal
饺jiao3dumplings with meat filling
佼jiao3beautiful, handsome, good-looking
铰jiao3hinge; scissors, shears; to cut
皎jiao3white; bright, brilliant; clear
鲛jiao1shark
姣Jiao1beautiful, handsome, pretty
蛟jiao1a legendary scaled dragon
鮫jiao1shark
恔
挍
洨Xiao2a river in Hebei province
珓
窔
筊xiao2bamboo rope
茭jiao1an edible aquatic grass; Zizania aquatica
詨
効
峧
晈
烄
絞jiao3intertwined; to twist, to wring; to hang a criminal
虠
賋
較jiao4to compare; relatively; more
鉸jiao3hinge; scissors, shears; to cut
頝
餃jiao3stuffed dumplings
駮bo2fierce animal; piebald horse; to argue; to join, to transfer
骹
鵁
齩
Words Containing This Character20
交jiāoto hand over
交易jiāoyìbusiness deal
交通jiāotōngtraffic
交流jiāoliúto exchange
交给jiāogěito give交給
成交chéngjiāoto reach a deal
交换jiāohuànto exchange交換
交往jiāowǎngto associate (with)
交谈jiāotánto discuss交談
外交wàijiāodiplomacy
提交tíjiāoto submit (a report etc)
社交shèjiāointeraction
交叉jiāochāto cross
交警jiāojǐngtraffic police
打交道dǎjiāodaoto have dealings
交代jiāodàito hand over
交出to hand over
外交部foreign office
交易所exchange
性交sexual intercourse
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 校 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 交
Some common phrases include '交朋友' (jiāo péngyǒu) meaning 'to make friends' and '交钱' (jiāo qián) meaning 'to pay money.' These phrases highlight the character's use in social interactions and financial transactions.
交 (jiāo) focuses on the act of handing over or making connections, while 交际 (jiāojì) refers specifically to social interactions or communication. Understanding this difference can help learners choose the right term based on context.
交 (jiāo) means to hand over or deliver something. It can also refer to paying money, making friends, or the act of intersecting lines. The versatility of this character allows it to be used in various contexts.
You can use 交 in sentences like '我想交朋友' (Wǒ xiǎng jiāo péngyǒu), which means 'I want to make friends.' Another example is '请把这个交给他' (Qǐng bǎ zhège jiāo gěi tā), meaning 'Please hand this over to him.' This shows its application in both social and transactional contexts.
In a social context, 交 refers to making friends or establishing connections with others.
Yes, 交 can refer to both handing over items and forming friendships.
The correct pronunciation is 'jiāo' with a high-level tone.
