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March 24, 2026
绕(繞)rào(rao4)
绕 (rào) means to wind or coil something, such as thread, or to move around an obstacle. It can also imply making a detour or confusing someone, often used in contexts requiring the action of circumventing or complicating a situation.
Strokes9Radical纟Frequency#2529DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of making a detour or winding through obstacles is relevant in Chinese philosophy, particularly in the idea of 'taking the long way around' to achieve a goal, reflecting adaptability and resourcefulness in problem-solving.
Memory Tip
Imagine a ribbon (绕) being wound around a spool. The character '绕' has the radical '纟' (silk), which relates to threads and winding, and the '余' component can remind you of extra twists in a ribbon, helping you recall both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 绕
rào(rao4)
1to wind
2to coil (thread)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 绕
绕Simplified
繞Traditional
9Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2529Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 绕
Podcast: 绕
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AI Study Notes for 绕
Quick Contrast
绕 (rào) vs 走 (zǒu): choose 绕 when emphasizing detouring or circumventing an obstacle, while 走 indicates simply moving or walking without the connotation of avoidance.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 绕 (rào) with 让 (ràng), which means 'to let' or 'to allow.' This character is more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing routes or methods. Common collocations include '绕路' (detour) and '绕圈' (go in circles).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 绕 connects to other verbs describing movement and direction. Focus on its applications in both physical and metaphorical contexts, as it can describe not just a physical winding but also complex situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 绕 when they mean to say '绕过' (to bypass) without the latter, which can lead to awkward phrasing. For example, saying '我绕了' (I wound) instead of '我绕过了' (I bypassed) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绕
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How Well Do You Know 绕?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 绕 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.
绕 = 纟 + 尧. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 绕
IDS Structure⿰纟尧
绕Full Character
=
纟si1
left
尧Yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 绕?
How to say to wind in Chinese
“to wind” in Chinese is绕rào
绕 (rào) means to wind or coil something, such as thread, or to move around an obstacle. It can also imply making a detour or confusing someone, often used in contexts requiring the action of circumventing or complicating a situation.
When to use 绕
Be careful not to confuse 绕 (rào) with 让 (ràng), which means 'to let' or 'to allow.' This character is more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing routes or methods. Common collocations include '绕路' (detour) and '绕圈' (go in circles).
绕 or something close to it
绕 (rào) vs 走 (zǒu): choose 绕 when emphasizing detouring or circumventing an obstacle, while 走 indicates simply moving or walking without the connotation of avoidance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 绕 when they mean to say '绕过' (to bypass) without the latter, which can lead to awkward phrasing. For example, saying '我绕了' (I wound) instead of '我绕过了' (I bypassed) is incorrect.
Write 绕
绕
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Grammar Patterns of 绕
绕 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.
