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敲诈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
敲诈qiāozhàto rip offHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6890, Very Hard
敲诈qiāozhàto extort (money)HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6890, Very Hard
敲诈qiāozhàextortionHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6890, Very Hard
敲诈qiāozhàblackmailHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6890, Very Hard
qiāozhà(qiao1zha4)qiao zha T1
  1. 1to rip off
  2. 2to extort (money)
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March 24, 2026

敲诈(敲詐)qiāozhà(qiao1zha4)

The term 敲诈 (qiāo zhà) refers to the act of extorting money or valuables from someone, often through threats or intimidation. It is commonly used in legal contexts to describe criminal behavior involving coercion, and it can also imply deceitful practices in personal or business relationships.

Strokes21Frequency#6890DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Extortion is a significant issue in Chinese society, particularly in business environments where power dynamics can lead to coercive practices. The term is often referenced in news stories about corruption and organized crime.

Memory tip

Imagine a thief knocking (敲, qiāo) on a door to demand money, while a shadowy figure looms in the background, representing the threat (诈, zhà) involved in extortion. The 'knock' and 'threat' imagery helps connect the characters to their meaning.

Meanings of 敲诈

qiāozhà(qiao1zha4)
1to rip off
2to extort (money)
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About 敲诈

敲诈Simplified
敲詐Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 敲诈

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AI study notes for 敲诈

Quick Contrast

敲诈 (extort) vs 威胁 (threat) — use 敲诈 when the act involves obtaining something of value, while 威胁 focuses on the act of threatening itself without necessarily implying a demand for money.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of the tone used when discussing 敲诈, as it carries a serious connotation. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in law or crime discussions. Common collocations include '敲诈勒索' (extortion) and '警惕敲诈' (beware of extortion).

HSK Study Tips

While 敲诈 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it aligns with advanced learners' exploration of legal and criminal terms. Students should focus on recognizing the characters in context and understanding their implications in discussions about crime and ethics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 敲诈 with 诈骗; for instance, saying '我被诈骗了' (I was extorted) instead of using 敲诈. Remember, 诈骗 is about deceit, while 敲诈 involves threats.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 敲诈

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Component characters

敲qiāoto hit
HSK 414 strokes攴
View full entry
诈zhàto cheat
HSK 77 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to rip off in Chinese

“to rip off” in Chinese is敲诈qiāozhà

The term 敲诈 (qiāo zhà) refers to the act of extorting money or valuables from someone, often through threats or intimidation. It is commonly used in legal contexts to describe criminal behavior involving coercion, and it can also imply deceitful practices in personal or business relationships.

When to use 敲诈

Be cautious of the tone used when discussing 敲诈, as it carries a serious connotation. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in law or crime discussions. Common collocations include '敲诈勒索' (extortion) and '警惕敲诈' (beware of extortion).

敲诈 or something close to it

敲诈 (extort) vs 威胁 (threat) — use 敲诈 when the act involves obtaining something of value, while 威胁 focuses on the act of threatening itself without necessarily implying a demand for money.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 敲诈 with 诈骗; for instance, saying '我被诈骗了' (I was extorted) instead of using 敲诈. Remember, 诈骗 is about deceit, while 敲诈 involves threats.

Write 敲诈

敲
诈

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Frequently asked questions about 敲诈

While 敲诈 (qiāo zhà) refers specifically to extortion involving threats, 诈骗 (zhà piàn) means fraud or deception without necessarily involving coercion.

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