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傲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
傲
ào
proud
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
傲
ào
arrogant
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
傲
ào
to despise
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
傲
ào
unyielding
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
傲
ào
to defy
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
傲
ào
proud, haughty, overbearing
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8457, Very Hard
ào(ao4)ao T4
1proud
2arrogant
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March 24, 2026
傲ào(ao4)
The character 傲 (ào) primarily means 'proud' or 'arrogant,' often carrying a negative connotation. It is commonly used to describe someone who is overly self-important or haughty, and can also imply defiance or unyielding attitude. In various contexts, it can reflect both personal pride and disdain for others.
Strokes12Radical亻Frequency#8457DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being proud or arrogant can lead to social ostracism, as humility is often valued. The character 傲 reflects the societal expectation to remain modest and respectful, particularly in hierarchical relationships.
Memory tip
Imagine a peacock, which symbolizes pride, strutting confidently with its feathers fanned out. The top of the character 傲 resembles the proud peacock's head, while the bottom can remind you of its strong, defiant stance. Together, they evoke the sound 'ào' as you picture the peacock's haughty demeanor.
Meanings of 傲
ào(ao4)
1proud
2arrogant
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 傲
傲Simplified
12Strokes
亻Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8457Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 傲
Podcast: 傲
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AI study notes for 傲
Quick Contrast
傲 (proud/arrogant) vs 自豪 (zìháo, proud) — use 傲 when implying a negative connotation of arrogance, while 自豪 emphasizes a positive sense of pride.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 傲 with 自豪 (zìháo), which means 'proud' in a positive sense. 傲 is more negative and should be used carefully to avoid offending someone. It is typically used in informal contexts when criticizing someone's attitude or behavior.
HSK Study Tips
Although 傲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 自豪 (zìháo) and 骄傲 (jiāo'ào), which also express pride but with different nuances. Focus on recognizing how 傲 can convey a more negative attitude compared to related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 傲 in positive contexts, thinking it means pride in a good way. For instance, saying '他对自己的成就感到傲' ('He feels proud of his achievements') is incorrect; instead, use '他对自己的成就感到自豪'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 傲
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傲 = 亻 + 敖. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 傲
IDS Structure⿰亻敖
傲Full character
=
亻ren2
left
敖Ao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 傲?
How to say proud in Chinese
“proud” in Chinese is傲ào
The character 傲 (ào) primarily means 'proud' or 'arrogant,' often carrying a negative connotation. It is commonly used to describe someone who is overly self-important or haughty, and can also imply defiance or unyielding attitude. In various contexts, it can reflect both personal pride and disdain for others.
When to use 傲
Learners often confuse 傲 with 自豪 (zìháo), which means 'proud' in a positive sense. 傲 is more negative and should be used carefully to avoid offending someone. It is typically used in informal contexts when criticizing someone's attitude or behavior.
傲 or something close to it
傲 (proud/arrogant) vs 自豪 (zìháo, proud) — use 傲 when implying a negative connotation of arrogance, while 自豪 emphasizes a positive sense of pride.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 傲 in positive contexts, thinking it means pride in a good way. For instance, saying '他对自己的成就感到傲' ('He feels proud of his achievements') is incorrect; instead, use '他对自己的成就感到自豪'.
Write 傲
傲
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Practice writing 傲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 傲
傲 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 6 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.
Unconscious envy manifests itself very often as this kind of arrogance.
4
与众不同之处在于他的骄傲自大和满嘴脏话。
yǔzhòngbùtóng zhī chǔzài yú tā de jiāo’ào zì dà hé mǎn zuǐ zāng huà。
The things that stuck out were his cockiness and his four-letter words.
5
她傲慢地招招手，把我叫出房间。
tā àomàn dì zhāo zhāoshǒu， bǎ wǒ jiào chū fángjiān。
Imperiously she beckoned me out of the room.
6
我真为你骄傲，亲爱的！
wǒ zhēn wèi nǐ jiāo’ào， qīnài de！
I am so proud of you, my sweet!
7
“你骗不了我，”雪莉傲慢地说。
“ nǐ piàn bù le wǒ，” xuě lì àomàn dì shuō。
"You can't fool me," Shirley said archly.
8
红梅傲雪凌霜开.
hóng méi ào xuě líng shuāng kāi.
Braving snow and frost , the plum trees blossomed defiantly.
9
但晴 自信 傲慢, 与大男人的 权频 生磨擦.
dàn qíng zìxìn àomàn, yǔ dà nánrén de quán pín shēng mó cā.
Arrogant self - confidence but clear, with a man's right to frequent friction "
10
她的问候中带着一丝傲慢。
tā de wènhòu zhōng dài zhe yī sī àomàn。
There was a tinge of condescension in her greeting.
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Cultural Notes for 傲
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, being '傲' (proud or arrogant) is often viewed negatively. Humility is greatly valued, and people are encouraged to be modest and down-to-earth.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese proverb is '傲不可长', meaning 'pride should not last long'. This reflects the cultural belief that arrogance can lead to downfall.
Word Family of 傲
Words containing this character15
骄傲jiāo’àopride驕傲
傲àoproud
傲慢àomànarrogant
高傲gāo’àoarrogant
自傲zì’àoarrogance
傲气àoqìhaughtiness傲氣
傲然àoránloftily
傲视àoshìto turn up one's nose傲視
狂傲kuáng’àodomineering
心高气傲xīngāoqì’àoproud and arrogant心高氣傲
傲骨àogǔlofty and unyielding character
倨傲jù’àoarrogant
居功自傲jūgōngzì’àosatisfied with one's accomplishment and arrogant as a result (idiom); resting on one's laurels and despising others
恃才傲物shìcái’àowùto be inordinately proud of one's ability
傲睨àonìto look down upon
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 傲
What does 骄傲 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 傲
Both 傲 (ào) and 骄 (jiāo) can mean proud or arrogant, but 傲 often emphasizes a sense of defiance or disdain, while 骄 tends to indicate a sense of pride that may not necessarily be negative. Understanding the context is key to using them correctly.
While 傲 (ào) typically has a negative connotation of arrogance, it can be used positively in certain contexts, such as expressing pride in one’s achievements. However, it's crucial to consider the tone and context to avoid misunderstandings.
傲 (ào) means proud or arrogant. It can also convey the idea of being unyielding or defiant. The character is often used to describe someone who has a strong sense of self-worth or superiority.
You can use 傲 (ào) to describe someone’s attitude or behavior, such as in the sentence '他非常傲慢' (tā fēicháng àomàn), which means 'He is very arrogant.' It’s important to use it carefully, as it can carry a negative connotation.
Both words convey pride, but 傲 is more negative, suggesting arrogance, while 骄傲 (jiāo'ào) can be used positively.
It is generally considered informal and should be used with caution in formal contexts, as it may offend.
The correct pronunciation is 'ào', with a falling tone.
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