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March 24, 2026
瞧qiáo(qiao2)
The verb 瞧 (qiáo) primarily means 'to look at' or 'to see.' It is often used in informal contexts, implying a casual glance or observation rather than a deep examination. Additionally, it can mean to visit someone, particularly in the context of seeing a doctor.
Strokes17Radical目Frequency#689DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, visiting a doctor is often considered a more social event compared to many Western cultures. The use of 瞧 in phrases like '瞧病' reflects a more communal approach to health care, where family and social connections are emphasized.
Memory Tip
Imagine you are 'glancing' at a beautiful 'qiáo' (bridge) over a river; the bridge's shape resembles the character 瞧. As you take a moment to admire it, you are also 'seeing' the scenery around you, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Meanings of 瞧
qiáo(qiao2)
1to look at
2to see
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 瞧
瞧Simplified
17Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#689Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 瞧
Podcast: 瞧
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AI Study Notes for 瞧
Quick Contrast
看 (kàn) vs 望 (wàng): Use 瞧 for informal or casual observation, while 看 is more general and can imply deeper attention, and 望 suggests looking at something from a distance or with longing.
Usage Notes
While 瞧 can be used informally, be cautious using it in formal situations, as it might come off as too casual. Common collocations include '瞧一瞧' (have a look) and '瞧病' (see a doctor). Remember that the tone is critical; it should always be pronounced with the second tone, qiáo.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 瞧 connects with other verbs related to perception and observation, such as 看 (kàn) and 见 (jiàn). Focus on using it in context to differentiate its meaning from similar verbs and practice constructing sentences that require it.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瞧 with 看 (kàn), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, using '我瞧了这本书' (I looked at this book) is incorrect; it should be '我看了这本书' to sound more natural.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瞧
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Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 焦 represents the sound.
1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
2The sound half焦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayeye
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 瞧? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 瞧?
Decomposition of 瞧
IDS Structure⿰目焦
瞧Full Character
=
目mu4
left
焦Jiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 瞧?
How to say to look at in Chinese
“to look at” in Chinese is瞧qiáo
The verb 瞧 (qiáo) primarily means 'to look at' or 'to see.' It is often used in informal contexts, implying a casual glance or observation rather than a deep examination. Additionally, it can mean to visit someone, particularly in the context of seeing a doctor.
When to use 瞧
While 瞧 can be used informally, be cautious using it in formal situations, as it might come off as too casual. Common collocations include '瞧一瞧' (have a look) and '瞧病' (see a doctor). Remember that the tone is critical; it should always be pronounced with the second tone, qiáo.
瞧 or something close to it
看 (kàn) vs 望 (wàng): Use 瞧 for informal or casual observation, while 看 is more general and can imply deeper attention, and 望 suggests looking at something from a distance or with longing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瞧 with 看 (kàn), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, using '我瞧了这本书' (I looked at this book) is incorrect; it should be '我看了这本书' to sound more natural.
Write 瞧
瞧
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Grammar Patterns of 瞧
瞧 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 5 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.
The thrill wears off after a few years of marriage. You'll see.
9
谁会瞧得起我们?
shuí huì qiáo dé qǐ wǒ mén?
Who would look up to us?
10
“ 你真该瞧瞧他系的那条领带.
“ “ nǐ zhēn gāi qiáo qiáo tā xì de nà tiáo lǐng.
" You ought to have seen the tie he had on.
Word Family of 瞧
Words Containing This Character5
瞧qiáoto see
瞧不起qiáobùqǐto look down upon
瞧见to see瞧見
走着瞧wait and see (who is right)走著瞧
小瞧to underestimate
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瞧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瞧
Yes, 瞧 can also be used in the context of visiting a doctor, often in casual speech. For example, '我去瞧医生' (Wǒ qù qiáo yīshēng) means 'I am going to see a doctor'.
瞧 is generally considered informal. It's commonly used in spoken language and casual conversations, rather than in formal writing or speeches.
You can use 瞧 in a sentence like this: '你瞧，这个地方真漂亮！' (Nǐ qiáo, zhège dìfāng zhēn piàoliang!) which means 'Look, this place is really beautiful!'. It's often used to engage someone's attention.
瞧 (qiáo) means 'to look at' or 'to see'. It can also imply visiting someone or checking something out. It's commonly used in informal contexts when you want to draw attention to something.
No, 瞧 is generally informal; for more formal contexts, it's better to use 看 (kàn) or 观看 (guānkàn).
Not exclusively; it can also refer to visiting someone or seeing a doctor.
Try associating it with 'qiáo' by picturing a person glancing at something interesting.
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