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教养 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
教养jiàoyǎngto trainHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngto educateHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngto bring upHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngto nurtureHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngeducationHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngcultureHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngupbringingHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
教养jiàoyǎngearly conditioningHSK 7, n, 20 strokes, rank #7956, Very Hard
jiàoyǎng(jiao4yang3)jiao yang T4
  1. 1to train
  2. 2to educate
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March 24, 2026

教养(教養)jiàoyǎng(jiao4yang3)

教养 (jiàoyǎng) refers to the education and upbringing that shapes a person's character and manners. It encompasses not only formal education but also cultural values and social behavior instilled in an individual, often reflecting one's family background and societal influences.

Strokes20Frequency#7956DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 教养 is often associated with the Confucian value of cultivating one's character and moral integrity, making it a significant aspect of family upbringing. It's common for parents to emphasize the importance of 教养 alongside academic success.

Memory tip

Imagine a teacher (教) nurturing a young plant (养) to grow into a strong tree. The character 教 represents teaching, while 养 suggests nurturing, combining to evoke the idea of cultivating both knowledge and morals.

Meanings of 教养

jiàoyǎng(jiao4yang3)
1to train
2to educate
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 教养

教养Simplified
教養Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7956Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 教养

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Podcast: 教养

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AI study notes for 教养

Quick Contrast

文明 (wénmíng) - use 教养 (jiàoyǎng) when emphasizing the personal upbringing and character development, while 文明 (wénmíng) focuses more on the broader concept of civilization and cultural refinement.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 教养 can have a slightly formal tone, often used in contexts discussing upbringing or personal development. Common collocations include '良好教养' (good upbringing) and '教养水平' (level of education). Avoid confusing it with 教学 (teaching) which focuses more on the act of instruction rather than the overall nurturing.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 教养 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to education and personal development, such as 文化 (culture) and 习惯 (habit). Focus on how it's used in discussions about personal qualities and societal expectations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 教养 with 教育; for example, saying '我有好的教育' (I have good education) when they mean 'I have a good upbringing'. It's important to use 教养 to refer to upbringing and personal manners.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 教养

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Component characters

教jiāoto teach
HSK 211 strokes攵
View full entry
养yǎngto raise (animals)
HSK 39 strokes丷
View full entry

How to say to train in Chinese

“to train” in Chinese is教养jiàoyǎng

教养 (jiàoyǎng) refers to the education and upbringing that shapes a person's character and manners. It encompasses not only formal education but also cultural values and social behavior instilled in an individual, often reflecting one's family background and societal influences.

When to use 教养

Be mindful that 教养 can have a slightly formal tone, often used in contexts discussing upbringing or personal development. Common collocations include '良好教养' (good upbringing) and '教养水平' (level of education). Avoid confusing it with 教学 (teaching) which focuses more on the act of instruction rather than the overall nurturing.

教养 or something close to it

文明 (wénmíng) - use 教养 (jiàoyǎng) when emphasizing the personal upbringing and character development, while 文明 (wénmíng) focuses more on the broader concept of civilization and cultural refinement.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 教养 with 教育; for example, saying '我有好的教育' (I have good education) when they mean 'I have a good upbringing'. It's important to use 教养 to refer to upbringing and personal manners.

Write 教养

教
养

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

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Grammar patterns of 教养

教养 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 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.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

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

他只是个有____的中产阶级家庭的男孩。

He's just a well-brought-up, middle-class boy.

Example sentences for 教养 (3)

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1
他只是个有教养的中产阶级家庭的男孩。

tā zhǐshì gè yǒu jiàoyǎng de zhōng chǎn jiējí jiātíng de nán hái。

He's just a well-brought-up, middle-class boy.
2
他们每天都和保姆一起在公园里散步,表现得很有教养。

tāmen měi tiān dōu hé bǎomǔ yìqǐ zài gōngyuán lǐ sànbù, biǎoxiàn de hěn yǒu jiàoyǎng。

They go for decorous walks every day in parks with their nanny.
3
而印第安人呢,则为那位著名作家有教养的、开化的见解而折服。

ér yìn dì Ān rén ne, zé wèi nà wèi zhùmíng zuòjiā yǒu jiàoyǎng de、 kāi huà de jiànjiě ér shé fú。

The Indians, in turn, were charmed by the famous author's cultured and civilised outlook.

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Cultural Notes for 教养

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While Western cultures may focus more on individualism and personal achievement, Chinese culture places a stronger emphasis on collective values and the importance of a well-rounded upbringing.

Frequently asked questions about 教养

教育 (jiàoyù) refers specifically to education or teaching, while 教养 (jiàoyǎng) includes upbringing and personal development, focusing more on character and manners.

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