Meanings of 熬
By ear
Play it, then pick what 熬 means.
About 熬
Podcast: 熬
Podcast: 熬
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 熬
熬 (áo) vs 煮 (zhǔ) — use 熬 when emphasizing endurance or hardship, while 煮 focuses solely on the act of cooking.
Be careful not to confuse 熬 with 煮 (zhǔ), which specifically means to boil. This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing cooking methods or expressing the idea of enduring challenges. Common collocations include 熬夜 (áo yè, to stay up late) and 熬汤 (áo tāng, to simmer soup).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 熬 connects well with other cooking-related vocabulary and terms for endurance, such as 忍耐 (rěnnài, to endure). Focus on situational usage, especially in contexts discussing cooking or personal challenges.
Learners often confuse 熬 with 煮 (zhǔ), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'boil' in a general sense. For example, saying 熬水 (áo shuǐ) instead of 煮水 (zhǔ shuǐ) for 'boiling water' is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 熬
Drill the tone of 熬, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 熬 to you
Let me explain 熬 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 熬 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 熬?
Learning Lab
Knowing 熬 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.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 熬
Phonosemantic compound. 灬 represents the meaning and 敖 represents the sound.
fire
Origin
熬 = 灬 + 敖. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 熬
Parts
Which of these is part of 熬?
How to say to boil in Chinese
“to boil” in Chinese is熬
The character 熬 (áo) primarily means 'to boil' or 'to simmer,' often used in the context of cooking. It can also imply enduring hardship or pain, making it a versatile term that reflects both physical and emotional endurance, such as 'to tough it out' in a difficult situation.
When to use 熬
Be careful not to confuse 熬 with 煮 (zhǔ), which specifically means to boil. This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing cooking methods or expressing the idea of enduring challenges. Common collocations include 熬夜 (áo yè, to stay up late) and 熬汤 (áo tāng, to simmer soup).
熬 or something close to it
熬 (áo) vs 煮 (zhǔ) — use 熬 when emphasizing endurance or hardship, while 煮 focuses solely on the act of cooking.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 熬 with 煮 (zhǔ), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'boil' in a general sense. For example, saying 熬水 (áo shuǐ) instead of 煮水 (zhǔ shuǐ) for 'boiling water' is incorrect.
Write 熬
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 熬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 熬
熬 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 7 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们互相关心，关系牢固，这才____过了艰难岁月。
The warmth and strength of their relationship carried them through difficult times.
Common confusions with 熬
Similar pinyin but different meaning.
Same pinyin but different meaning.
Which one
Which one means “to boil”?
Usage Notes for 熬
Learners often confuse the tones of '熬' with similar sounding characters. It's important to practice the correct tone to convey the intended meaning.
我在熬汤。
I am boiling soup.
他很傲慢。
He is very arrogant.
The verb '熬' can be used in both culinary contexts and metaphorically to describe enduring a difficult situation.
熬夜对身体不好。
Staying up late is not good for your health.
我们需要熬过这个困难。
We need to endure this difficulty.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我在____汤。
I am boiling soup.
Example sentences for 熬 (10)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 熬?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 熬
Words with 熬
What does 熬夜 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 熬
No, while it primarily means 'to boil' or 'to cook,' it also encompasses the idea of enduring hardships.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 熬?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.