Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
吊(弔)diào(diao4)
The character 吊 (diào) primarily means 'to suspend' or 'to hang up.' It is often used in contexts such as hanging objects or expressing condolences. Additionally, it can refer to hanging a person in a historical context or to lamenting someone's misfortune.
Strokes6Radical口Frequency#4153DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of mourning is significant, and 吊 is often used in the context of paying respects to the deceased. For instance, when someone passes away, people might say 吊唁 (diàoyàn) to express their condolences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, heavy object being suspended from a rope; the character 吊 looks like a hook (the top part) hanging down from a line (the vertical stroke), reminding you of the action of hanging. The sound 'diào' can be linked to 'dangle,' which also suggests something hanging.
Meanings of 吊
diào(diao4)
1to suspend
2to hang up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 吊
吊Simplified
弔Traditional
6Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#4153Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 吊
Podcast: 吊
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 吊
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 吊 with similar-sounding words. It is more informal and sometimes carries a negative connotation when used in the context of hanging a person. Common collocations include 吊起 (to lift up) and 吊带 (suspender).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 吊 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and actions. Focus on using it in both physical and metaphorical contexts to deepen understanding. Practice its usage in sentences to reinforce its meanings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吊 with similar characters like 掉 (diào), which means 'to fall.' For example, saying 吊了的苹果 (the apple that hung) instead of 掉了的苹果 (the apple that fell) demonstrates this confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吊
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 吊 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 吊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Decomposition of 吊
IDS Structure⿱口巾
吊Full Character
=
口kou3
top
巾jin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 吊?
How to say to suspend in Chinese
“to suspend” in Chinese is吊diào
The character 吊 (diào) primarily means 'to suspend' or 'to hang up.' It is often used in contexts such as hanging objects or expressing condolences. Additionally, it can refer to hanging a person in a historical context or to lamenting someone's misfortune.
When to use 吊
Be cautious not to confuse 吊 with similar-sounding words. It is more informal and sometimes carries a negative connotation when used in the context of hanging a person. Common collocations include 吊起 (to lift up) and 吊带 (suspender).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 吊 with similar characters like 掉 (diào), which means 'to fall.' For example, saying 吊了的苹果 (the apple that hung) instead of 掉了的苹果 (the apple that fell) demonstrates this confusion.
Write 吊
吊
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 吊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 吊
吊 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
悬____的屋顶下是一条宽阔的游廊。
There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.
Example Sentences for 吊 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
悬吊的屋顶下是一条宽阔的游廊。
xuán diào de wū dǐng xià shì yī tiáo kuān kuò de yóu láng。
There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.
2
在到精神病医院两小时后他就上吊自杀了。
zài dào jīng shén bìng yī yuàn liǎng xiǎo shí hòu tā jiù shàng diào zì shā le。
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital.
