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March 24, 2026
摇(搖)yáo(Yao2)
The character 摇 (yáo) primarily means 'to shake' or 'to rock.' It is commonly used in contexts such as dancing, shaking objects, or even rowing a boat. The nuance of this verb can imply a gentle movement or a more vigorous shaking, depending on context.
Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#3155DifficultyHard
Cultural note
摇 is often associated with traditional Chinese music and dance, where performers may sway or shake their bodies to the rhythm, reflecting a cultural appreciation for movement in art and expression.
Memory tip
Imagine a boat rocking gently on the waves. The '摇' character looks like a person (the left side) holding the oars (the right side) and shaking them side to side to row the boat. This visual helps connect the character to its meaning of 'to rock' or 'to row.'
Meanings of 摇
yáo(Yao2)
1to shake
2to rock
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 摇 means.
About 摇
摇Simplified
搖Traditional
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3155Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 摇
Podcast: 摇
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AI study notes for 摇
Quick Contrast
摇 (yáo) vs 摇晃 (yáohuàng): use 摇 for a general sense of shaking, while 摇晃 emphasizes a swaying, unsteady motion.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tone; '摇' is pronounced with the second tone, which can be confused with '要' (yào, 'to want') in rapid speech. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often seen in phrases like 摇晃 (yáo huàng, 'to sway') or 摇头 (yáo tóu, 'to shake one's head').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 摇 connects to other verbs that describe movement, such as 跳 (tiào, 'to jump') and 走 (zǒu, 'to walk'). Students should focus on using it in compound phrases and understanding its various applications in context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 摇 with 摇头 (yáo tóu) and think it only refers to the head movement, but it applies to various contexts. A common error is saying '我摇了我的头' (Wǒ yáo le wǒ de tóu) instead of '我摇头' (Wǒ yáo tóu) for 'I shake my head.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摇
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Example
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Knowing 摇 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.
摇 = 扌 + 䍃. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 摇
IDS Structure⿰扌䍃
摇Full character
=
扌shou3
left
䍃you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 摇?
How to say to shake in Chinese
“to shake” in Chinese is摇yáo
The character 摇 (yáo) primarily means 'to shake' or 'to rock.' It is commonly used in contexts such as dancing, shaking objects, or even rowing a boat. The nuance of this verb can imply a gentle movement or a more vigorous shaking, depending on context.
When to use 摇
Be cautious with tone; '摇' is pronounced with the second tone, which can be confused with '要' (yào, 'to want') in rapid speech. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often seen in phrases like 摇晃 (yáo huàng, 'to sway') or 摇头 (yáo tóu, 'to shake one's head').
摇 or something close to it
摇 (yáo) vs 摇晃 (yáohuàng): use 摇 for a general sense of shaking, while 摇晃 emphasizes a swaying, unsteady motion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 摇 with 摇头 (yáo tóu) and think it only refers to the head movement, but it applies to various contexts. A common error is saying '我摇了我的头' (Wǒ yáo le wǒ de tóu) instead of '我摇头' (Wǒ yáo tóu) for 'I shake my head.'
Write 摇
摇
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Grammar patterns of 摇
摇 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 6 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
Used to emphasize the action of shaking or rocking.
❝
这把椅子是摇的。
Zhè bǎ yǐzi shì yáo de.
This chair is the one that rocks.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build it
Put the words in order to say “This chair is the one that rocks.”.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common confusions with 摇
摇vs遥
yáo
Same pinyin but different meaning.
摇 implies a gentle rocking motion, while 摆 suggests a more deliberate swinging or placing.
1
他在摇椅上摇。
摇 implies a gentle rocking motion, while 摆 suggests a more deliberate swinging or placing.
💡摇 has a softer motion, think of rocking in a chair.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to shake”?
or
Usage Notes for 摇
Using 摇 vs. 摆Common Error
Learners often confuse 摇 (to rock) with 摆 (to swing or place). Use 摇 for gentle movements and 摆 for more deliberate actions.
1
我在摇篮里摇。
I rock in the cradle.
2
他在摆弄那个玩具。
He is fiddling with that toy.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
The wind was bouncing the branches of the big oak trees.
7
他曾告诉一位采访者，他甚至都不喜欢摇滚乐。
tā céng gàosu yī wèi cǎifǎng zhě， tā shènzhì dōu bù xǐhuan yáogǔn lè。
He once told an interviewer that he didn't even like rock music.
8
他一进来，狗就开始摇头摆尾。
tā yī jìnlái， gǒu jiù kāishǐ yáotóu bǎi wěi。
As soon as he got inside, the dog shook himself.
9
他摇摇头，用纸巾擦掉眼泪。
tā yáo yáotóu， yòng zhǐjīn cā diào yǎnlèi。
He shook his head and wiped his tears with a tissue.
10
他摇摇晃晃地行走在停车场凹凸不平的地面上。
tā yáo yáohuàng huǎng dì xíngzǒu zài tíngchēchǎng āotū bùpíng de dìmiàn shàng。
He staggered on the uneven surface of the car park.
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Word Family of 摇
Words containing this character20
摇yáoto shake搖
摇滚yáogǔnto rock搖滾
摇头yáotóuto shake one's head搖頭
动摇dòngyáoto sway動搖
摇摆yáobǎito sway搖擺
摇滚乐yáogǔnyuèrock music搖滾樂
摇晃yáohuàngto rock搖晃
摇篮yáoláncradle搖籃
摇摆舞yáobǎiwǔswing (dance)搖擺舞
摇曳yáoyè(of a flame) to flicker搖曳
招摇zhāoyáoto brag招搖
摇动yáodòngto shake搖動
摇摇欲坠yáoyáoyùzhuìtottering搖搖欲墜
摇摆不定yáobǎibúdìngindecisive搖擺不定
摇钱树yáoqiánshùa source of easy money (idiom)搖錢樹
摇身一变yáoshēnyíbiànto change shape in a single shake搖身一變
摇篮曲yáolánqǔlullaby搖籃曲
招摇过市zhāoyáoguòshìto parade oneself ostentatiously about town (idiom)招搖過市
摇椅yáoyǐrocking chair搖椅
大摇大摆dàyáodàbǎito strut大搖大擺
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 摇
What does 摇滚 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 摇
摇 (yáo) generally refers to shaking or rocking, while 摇晃 (yáohuàng) emphasizes the action of swaying or wobbling. Both can be used in similar contexts but carry slightly different nuances.
Yes, 摇 (Yáo) is a recognized surname in China, though it is not among the most common ones. Surnames in Chinese culture often have historical or geographical significance.
You can use 摇 (yáo) in sentences such as '我在摇晃这个瓶子' (Wǒ zài yáohuàng zhège píngzi), which means 'I am shaking this bottle.' It can also be used in expressions related to rocking or rowing.
摇 (yáo) means 'to shake', 'to rock', or 'to row'. It can refer to the action of moving something back and forth or side to side. Additionally, it is also a common surname in China.
You can say '我在摇晃这个瓶子' (Wǒ zài yáo huàng zhège píngzi), which means 'I am shaking this bottle.'
Yes, 摇 can refer to shaking or rocking various objects, such as a rattle or even your head.
摇 (yáo) generally means to shake or rock, while 摇摆 (yáobǎi) implies a more back-and-forth or swaying motion.
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