traditional military costume drama where the performers wear armor (old)
HSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠
kào
nearby; to depend on, to lean on, to trust
HSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
kào(kao4)kao T4
1to lean against or on
2to stand by the side of
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March 24, 2026
靠kào(kao4)
The character 靠 (kào) primarily means 'to lean against' or 'to depend on.' It is commonly used in contexts where support or reliance is implied, either physically or emotionally. In informal or vulgar contexts, it can also mean 'to have sex,' so it's important to be aware of the situation in which it is used.
Strokes15Radical非Frequency#566DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of relying on family or community is deeply rooted. The usage of 靠 can reflect the importance of social support structures in Chinese society, where individuals often depend on their social networks.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person leaning against a wall for support (靠). The left side of the character resembles a person leaning (亻) while the right side looks like a roof (口), symbolizing shelter and support. This imagery helps you remember that 'kào' is about leaning and relying on something.
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AI Study Notes for 靠
Quick Contrast
依靠 (yīkào) - use 靠 for informal or colloquial contexts, while 依靠 is more formal and implies a deeper sense of reliance.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 靠, as it is pronounced with a falling tone (kào). In informal speech, it’s often used to express reliance on friends or family, but the vulgar meaning should be avoided in formal contexts. Common collocations include 靠近 (kàojìn, to approach) and 靠谱 (kàopǔ, reliable).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 靠 connects with other verbs expressing actions or states of being. Focus on its various meanings and practice using it in sentences to express different contexts, such as dependency or physical proximity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 靠 with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying '我靠他' (wǒ kào tā) to mean 'I depend on him' is correct, but using it in a vulgar context accidentally can lead to misunderstandings. Always clarify the context when using this word.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 靠
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How Well Do You Know 靠?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 靠 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.
靠 = 非 + 告. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 靠
IDS Structure⿱告非
靠Full Character
=
告gao4
top
非Fei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 靠?
How to say to lean against or on in Chinese
“to lean against or on” in Chinese is靠kào
The character 靠 (kào) primarily means 'to lean against' or 'to depend on.' It is commonly used in contexts where support or reliance is implied, either physically or emotionally. In informal or vulgar contexts, it can also mean 'to have sex,' so it's important to be aware of the situation in which it is used.
When to use 靠
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 靠, as it is pronounced with a falling tone (kào). In informal speech, it’s often used to express reliance on friends or family, but the vulgar meaning should be avoided in formal contexts. Common collocations include 靠近 (kàojìn, to approach) and 靠谱 (kàopǔ, reliable).
靠 or something close to it
依靠 (yīkào) - use 靠 for informal or colloquial contexts, while 依靠 is more formal and implies a deeper sense of reliance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 靠 with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying '我靠他' (wǒ kào tā) to mean 'I depend on him' is correct, but using it in a vulgar context accidentally can lead to misunderstandings. Always clarify the context when using this word.
Write 靠
靠
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Grammar Patterns of 靠
靠 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 8 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.
She leaned her bicycle against the wall and then walked into the café.
17
小狗累了，靠在主人腿边睡着了。
Xiǎo gǒu lèi le, kào zài zhǔrén tuǐ biān shuìzhe le.
The puppy was tired and fell asleep leaning against its owner's leg.
18
他靠在窗台上，望着外面的风景出神。
Tā kào zài chuāngtái shàng, wàngzhe wàimiàn de fēngjǐng chūshén.
He leaned against the windowsill, lost in thought as he gazed at the scenery outside.
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Word Family of 靠
Words Containing This Character20
靠kàoto trust
靠近kàojìnnear
依靠yīkàoto depend on
可靠kěkàoreliable
靠边to pull over靠邊
可靠性reliability
停靠to call at
投靠to rely on help from sb
靠拢kàolǒngto draw close to靠攏
靠不住unreliable
靠岸landfall
靠山patron
挂靠affiliation掛靠
靠得住reliable
倚靠to lean on
牢靠robust
背靠背back to back
不可靠unreliable
无依无靠orphaned無依無靠
凭靠to use憑靠
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 靠
What does 靠近 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 靠
Common phrases with 靠 (kào) include '靠近' (kàojìn, to come near) and '依靠' (yīkào, to depend on). These phrases illustrate its versatility in expressing both physical and abstract relationships.
Yes, 靠 (kào) can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it is often used to express reliance or support, while in informal settings, it may also have a vulgar connotation depending on the context.
You can use 靠 (kào) in sentences to indicate physical support, such as '我靠在墙上' (I lean against the wall). It can also denote emotional or situational reliance, like '我靠你' (I depend on you).
靠 (kào) means to lean against or on something, to stand by the side of, or to come near to. It can also imply dependence or trust, as in relying on someone or something. In a vulgar context, it can be used as a slang term.
Generally, 靠 is more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like 依赖 (yīlài) for 'depend on.'
A common phrase is 靠谱 (kàopǔ), which means 'reliable' or 'dependable.'
In casual contexts, 靠 can imply sexual connotation, so be cautious about where and with whom you use it.
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