HSK 5, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #4087, Medium
腰
yāo
lower back
HSK 5, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #4087, Medium
腰
yāo
pocket
HSK 5, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #4087, Medium
腰
yāo
middle
HSK 5, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #4087, Medium
腰
yāo
loins
HSK 5, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #4087, Medium
yāo(yao1) T1
1waist
2lower back
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March 24, 2026
腰yāo(yao1)
The character 腰 (yāo) primarily refers to the waist or lower back area of the body. It is commonly used in both medical contexts and everyday conversation, often in phrases related to health, posture, and physical activity. Additionally, it can denote the middle or central part of something, emphasizing its role as a core or pivotal area.
Strokes13Radical⺼Frequency#4087DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the waist (腰) is considered an important area for health, often associated with kidney function and overall vitality, influencing practices such as Tai Chi and acupuncture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'yo-yo' that is balanced on your waist. The 'yāo' sound can remind you of the movement of a yo-yo spinning around the middle of your body, emphasizing the central position of your waist.
Meanings of 腰
yāo(yao1)
1waist
2lower back
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 腰
腰Simplified
13Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4087Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 腰
Podcast: 腰
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AI Study Notes for 腰
Quick Contrast
腰 (yāo) vs 背 (bèi): Use 腰 when referring specifically to the waist area, while 背 refers to the back, which is higher up on the body.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'yo-yo' that is balanced on your waist. The 'yāo' sound can remind you of the movement of a yo-yo spinning around the middle of your body, emphasizing the central position of your waist.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 腰 (yāo) with other body parts like 背 (bèi, back) or 腿 (tuǐ, leg). This word is generally used in informal contexts but can appear in health-related discussions. Common collocations include 腰痛 (yāo tòng, lower back pain) and 腰围 (yāo wéi, waist circumference).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 腰 connects with other anatomical terms and health-related vocabulary. Focus on using it in phrases and sentences to describe health issues or physical descriptions, which will enhance your overall understanding of body-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the waist (腰) is considered an important area for health, often associated with kidney function and overall vitality, influencing practices such as Tai Chi and acupuncture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腰 (yāo) with 背 (bèi, back). For example, saying '我背痛' (wǒ bèi tòng, I have back pain) when they mean '我腰痛' (wǒ yāo tòng, I have waist pain) demonstrates this mix-up.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腰
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Grammar Patterns of 腰
腰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
One of them unwound a length of rope from around his waist.
5
她剪掉了她那齐腰的金发。
tā jiǎn diào le tā nà qí yāo de jīn fā。
She chopped off her golden, waist-length hair.
6
她走上前去从即将离职的总统手中接过了就职腰带。
tā zǒu shàng qián qù cóng jí jiāng lí zhí de zǒng tǒng shǒu zhōng jiē guò le jiù zhí yāo dài。
She arrived to receive the sash of office from the outgoing president.
7
那件连衣裙凸显了她的蜂腰，也让她的胸部看起来更丰满。
nà jiàn lián yī qún tū xiǎn le tā de fēng yāo， ， yě ràng tā de xiōng bù kàn qǐ lái gēng fēng。
The dress exaggerates her wasp waist and enlarges her bosom.
8
腰带、和服和其他衣服都是儿童款的。
yāo dài、 、 hé fú hé qí tā yī fú dū shì ér tóng kuǎn。
The sash, kimono, and other garments were made to fit a child.
9
送信人弯下腰来，挠着膝部被绑腿磨红的地方。
sòng xìn rén wān xià yāo lái， ， náo zháo xī bù bèi bǎng tuǐ mó hóng de dì。
The messenger bent and scratched at his knee where the strapping chafed.
10
她弯腰向下,左右手交叉触及脚趾.
tā wān yāo xiàng xià, , zuǒ yòu shǒu jiāo chā chù jí jiǎo.
She reached down, touching her toes with opposite hands.
Cultural Notes for 腰
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the waist (腰) is considered an important area for health, often associated with kidney function and overall vitality, influencing practices such as Tai Chi and acupuncture.
Word Family of 腰
Words Containing This Character20
腰yāowaist
腰带belt腰帶
腰部waist
弯腰to stoop彎腰
腰包pocket
腰椎lumbar vertebra (lower backbone)
腰围girth腰圍
后腰lower back後腰
掏腰包to dip into one's pocket
撑腰to support撐腰
山腰halfway up a mountain
腰果cashew nuts
懒腰a stretch (of one's body)懶腰
腰缠万贯loaded腰纏萬貫
拦腰to hold by the waist攔腰
裤腰带waistband褲腰帶
腰板waist and back
腰子kidney
折腰to bow
腰肢waist
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 腰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腰
Yes, 腰 (yāo) is often used in expressions related to physical health or posture, such as '保护腰' (bǎohù yāo), meaning 'protect your lower back'. It can also appear in idiomatic phrases about strength or resilience.
腰 (yāo) refers specifically to the waist or lower back, while 背 (bèi) refers to the back in a more general sense. Understanding these differences can help you discuss body parts more accurately in Chinese.
腰 (yāo) means 'waist' or 'lower back' in Chinese. It can also refer to the 'middle' or 'loins' of the body. In some contexts, it may also mean 'pocket'.
You can use 腰 (yāo) in a sentence like '我的腰很痛' (wǒ de yāo hěn tòng), which means 'My lower back hurts.' It can also be used in phrases related to body posture or clothing that fits around the waist.
You can still use 腰 (yāo), but you might also encounter more specific terms in clinical settings.
While primarily referring to the human waist, 腰 can also describe the middle part of objects in some contexts.
Common phrases include 腰痛 (yāo tòng, lower back pain) and 腰围 (yāo wéi, waist circumference).
