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乖巧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
乖巧guāiqiǎoclever (child)HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #29270, Very Hard
乖巧guāiqiǎosmartHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #29270, Very Hard
乖巧guāiqiǎolovableHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #29270, Very Hard
乖巧guāiqiǎocuteHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #29270, Very Hard
guāiqiǎo(guai1qiao3)guai qiao T1
  1. 1clever (child)
  2. 2smart
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March 24, 2026

乖巧guāiqiǎo(guai1qiao3)

乖巧 (guāi qiǎo) refers to a child or individual who is clever, smart, and endearing. This term is often used to describe children who behave well, are obedient, and possess a certain charm that makes them lovable and cute.

Strokes13Frequency#29270DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the attributes of being 乖巧 are highly valued, especially in children, as they reflect good upbringing and social harmony. Parents often aspire for their children to be 乖巧 to ensure they are well-liked and successful in social situations.

Memory tip

Imagine a clever child who knows how to charm everyone around them. The character 乖 consists of the radical for 'child' (子) on the left, suggesting a youthful context, and '乖' resembles a child who is 'smart' and 'obedient.' Picture this child skillfully navigating social situations with a smile, making everyone fond of them.

Meanings of 乖巧

guāiqiǎo(guai1qiao3)
1clever (child)
2smart
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About 乖巧

乖巧Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 乖巧

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AI study notes for 乖巧

Quick Contrast

聪明 (cōngmíng) - use 乖巧 when emphasizing charm and obedience, while 聪明 focuses solely on intelligence.

Usage Notes

When using 乖巧, be mindful of the context; it is typically informal and used in affectionate or positive settings. A common mistake is to use it for adults, which can sound patronizing. Always pair it with nouns like 'child' (孩子) for clarity.

HSK Study Tips

While 乖巧 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to describing people’s characteristics. Focus on using it alongside adjectives and nouns to build your descriptive vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 乖巧 with just 'smart' or 'clever,' overlooking the affectionate connotation. For example, saying '他很乖巧' (He is very clever) can be correct if referring to a child, but inappropriate for adults.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 乖巧

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Component characters

乖guāi(of a child) obedient, well-behaved
HSK 78 strokes丿
View full entry
巧qiǎoopportunely
HSK 45 strokes工
View full entry

How to say clever (child) in Chinese

“clever (child)” in Chinese is乖巧guāiqiǎo

乖巧 (guāi qiǎo) refers to a child or individual who is clever, smart, and endearing. This term is often used to describe children who behave well, are obedient, and possess a certain charm that makes them lovable and cute.

When to use 乖巧

When using 乖巧, be mindful of the context; it is typically informal and used in affectionate or positive settings. A common mistake is to use it for adults, which can sound patronizing. Always pair it with nouns like 'child' (孩子) for clarity.

乖巧 or something close to it

聪明 (cōngmíng) - use 乖巧 when emphasizing charm and obedience, while 聪明 focuses solely on intelligence.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 乖巧 with just 'smart' or 'clever,' overlooking the affectionate connotation. For example, saying '他很乖巧' (He is very clever) can be correct if referring to a child, but inappropriate for adults.

Write 乖巧

乖
巧

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Frequently asked questions about 乖巧

It's best to avoid using 乖巧 for adults, as it can sound condescending; instead, use it specifically for children.

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