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娇气 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
娇气jiāoqìdelicateHSK 7, a, 13 strokes, rank #32853, Very Hard
娇气jiāoqìsqueamishHSK 7, a, 13 strokes, rank #32853, Very Hard
娇气jiāoqìfinickyHSK 7, a, 13 strokes, rank #32853, Very Hard
jiāoqì(jiao1qi4)jiao qi T1
  1. 1delicate
  2. 2squeamish
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March 24, 2026

娇气(嬌氣)jiāoqì(jiao1qi4)

娇气 describes someone or something that is overly delicate, sensitive, or finicky. It is often used to indicate a person who is easily upset or unable to handle hardship, whether physically or emotionally. Common contexts for this term include describing a person's temperament or the fragility of an object.

Strokes13Frequency#32853DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 娇气 can be viewed negatively, especially in contexts where resilience is valued. This term may reflect societal expectations regarding strength and stoicism, particularly for women.

Memory Tip

Think of a delicate flower (娇) that requires special care to flourish (气). The character 娇 (jiao1) suggests beauty and fragility, while the character 气 (qi4) relates to vitality and energy; together they evoke the image of something that needs nurturing.

Meanings of 娇气

jiāoqì(jiao1qi4)
1delicate
2squeamish
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About 娇气

娇气Simplified
嬌氣Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#32853Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 娇气

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Podcast: 娇气

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AI Study Notes for 娇气

Quick Contrast

娇弱 (jiāoruò) - use 娇气 for a more emotional or temperament-related nuance, while 娇弱 emphasizes physical frailty.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone; 娇气 carries a somewhat negative connotation, implying weakness or fussiness. It is often used informally, so avoid using it in formal settings. Common collocations include '娇气的孩子' (a delicate child) or '娇气的女人' (a finicky woman).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 娇气 connects to other advanced vocabulary describing emotions and personalities. Focus on understanding its nuances in different contexts, especially in conversations about relationships or personal traits.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 娇气 with words that have a more positive connotation, like '温柔' (gentle). For example, saying '她很娇气' (She is very gentle) can be misleading; it actually implies she is overly sensitive.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 娇气

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Component Characters

娇jiāolovable
9 strokes女
View full entry
气qìgas
HSK 44 strokes气
View full entry

How to say delicate in Chinese

“delicate” in Chinese is娇气jiāoqì

娇气 describes someone or something that is overly delicate, sensitive, or finicky. It is often used to indicate a person who is easily upset or unable to handle hardship, whether physically or emotionally. Common contexts for this term include describing a person's temperament or the fragility of an object.

When to use 娇气

Be careful with the tone; 娇气 carries a somewhat negative connotation, implying weakness or fussiness. It is often used informally, so avoid using it in formal settings. Common collocations include '娇气的孩子' (a delicate child) or '娇气的女人' (a finicky woman).

娇气 or something close to it

娇弱 (jiāoruò) - use 娇气 for a more emotional or temperament-related nuance, while 娇弱 emphasizes physical frailty.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 娇气 with words that have a more positive connotation, like '温柔' (gentle). For example, saying '她很娇气' (She is very gentle) can be misleading; it actually implies she is overly sensitive.

Write 娇气

娇
气

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Frequently Asked Questions about 娇气

While it's primarily used for people or their behaviors, you can describe food as 娇气 if it is overly delicate, but it's less common.

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