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靠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
靠kàoto lean against or onHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàoto stand by the side ofHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàoto come near toHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàoto depend onHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàoto trustHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàoto fuck (vulgar)HSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàotraditional military costume drama where the performers wear armor (old)HSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
靠kàonearby; to depend on, to lean on, to trustHSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 非, rank #566, Hard
kào(kao4)kao T4
  1. 1to lean against or on
  2. 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.

Meanings of 靠

kào(kao4)
1to lean against or on
2to stand by the side of
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 靠 means.

About 靠

靠Simplified
15Strokes
非Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#566Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

Podcast: 靠

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Podcast: 靠

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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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Etymology of 靠

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 非 represents the meaning and 告 represents the sound.

Memory hint

people back-to-back

Semantic (meaning)非
+
Phonetic (sound)告
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

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

Practice writing 靠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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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.

Related grammar lessons6
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

这棵树是靠着墙的。

Zhè kē shù shì kàozhe qiáng de.

This tree is leaning against the wall.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个消息未必可____，咱们再等等吧。

This news is not necessarily reliable — let's wait a bit.

Common confusions with 靠

靠vs考
kǎo

Similar pronunciation, but 考 refers to testing, while 靠 refers to leaning or depending.

靠 means to lean or depend on, while 依 refers to relying on or depending on in a more figurative sense.

1

他靠父母生活。 (He depends on his parents for living.) vs 他依赖父母。 (He relies on his parents.)

靠 means to lean or depend on, while 依 refers to relying on or depending on in a more figurative sense.

💡Kào sounds like 'cough', just as you lean to cough, while 依 resembles 'rely' in a softer sense.
Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “to lean against or on”?

or

Usage Notes for 靠

Use of 靠 in sentencesGrammar Tip

When using 靠, it often indicates physical support or reliance. It can also be used in a figurative sense to imply emotional or situational dependence.

1

我靠你了。

I depend on you.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我____你了。

I depend on you.

Example sentences for 靠 (18)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我们从可靠的消息来源获知索尼娅非常爱自己的家人。

wǒmen cóng kěkào de xiāoxi láiyuán huò zhī Suǒ ní yà fēicháng ài zìjǐ de jiārén。

Sonia, we are reliably informed, loves her family very much.
2
建造工人必须把新建房屋的屋顶固定得更牢靠些。

jiànzào gōngrén bìxū bǎ xīn jiàn fángwū de wūdǐng gùdìng de gèng láo kào xiē。

Builders must fasten down roofs of newly-built homes more securely.
3
钻石切割靠的是工匠的技艺。

zuànshí qiēgē kào de shì gōngjiàng de jìyì。

The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
4
人体骨架是由依靠韧带连接的形状相异的骨头构成。

réntǐ gǔjià shì yóu yīkào rèn dài liánjiē de xíngzhuàng Xiāng yì de gǔtou gòuchéng。

The skeleton consists of differently shaped bones held together by ligaments.
5
我已经掌握了有关该组织诞生的可靠的详细资料。

wǒ yǐjīng zhǎngwò le yǒuguān gāi zǔzhī dànshēng de kěkào de xiángxì zīliào。

I had obtained the authentic details about the birth of the organization.
6
我们靠近时,我看见汽车行李箱的盖子翘了起来.

wǒmen kàojìn shí, wǒ kànjiàn qìchē xínglixiāng de gàizi qiào le qǐlái.

As we drew near, I saw that the boot lid was up.
7
他们都说“这太不靠谱了，一点儿都不明智”。

tāmen dōu shuō“ zhè tài bù kào pǔ le， yìdiǎnr dōu bù míngzhì”。

They all said "This is crazy, this makes no sense".
8
这个人坐在他固定的靠窗的位置。

zhège rén zuò zài tā gùdìng de kào chuāng de wèizhì。

The man sat at his regular table near the window.
9
这家人不得不靠向当地商人赊账生活。

zhè jiārén bùdébù kào xiàng dāngdì shāngrén shē zhàng shēnghuó。

The family was forced to live on credit from local merchants.
10
房间里仅靠这一盏灯照明。

fángjiān lǐ jǐn kào zhè yī zhǎn dēng zhàomíng。

The room was lit by only the one light.
11
他喜欢坐在公园的长椅上，靠在背靠上晒太阳。

Tā xǐhuān zuò zài gōngyuán de cháng yǐ shàng, kào zài bèikào shàng shài tàiyáng.

He likes to sit on the park bench, leaning against the backrest to enjoy the sun.
12
她把自行车靠在墙上，然后走进咖啡馆。

Tā bǎ zìxíngchē kào zài qiáng shàng, ránhòu zǒu jìn kāfēiguǎn.

She leaned her bicycle against the wall and then walked into the café.
13
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.
14
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.
15
他喜欢坐在公园的长椅上，靠在背靠上晒太阳。

Tā xǐhuān zuò zài gōngyuán de cháng yǐ shàng, kào zài bèikào shàng shài tàiyáng.

He likes to sit on the park bench, leaning against the backrest to enjoy the sun.
16
她把自行车靠在墙上，然后走进咖啡馆。

Tā bǎ zìxíngchē kào zài qiáng shàng, ránhòu zǒu jìn kāfēiguǎn.

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kàobiānto pull over靠邊
可靠性kěkàoxìngreliability
停靠tíngkàoto call at
投靠tóukàoto rely on help from sb
靠拢kàolǒngto draw close to靠攏
靠不住kàobuzhùunreliable
靠岸kào’ànlandfall
靠山kàoshānpatron
挂靠guàkàoaffiliation掛靠
靠得住kàodezhùreliable
倚靠yǐkàoto lean on
牢靠láokàorobust
背靠背bèikàobèiback to back
不可靠bùkěkàounreliable
无依无靠wúyīwúkàoorphaned無依無靠
凭靠píngkàoto 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.

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