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槽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
槽
cáo
trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery
HSK 7, ng, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
groove
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
channel
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
(Tw) (computing) hard drive
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
cáo(cao2)cao T2
1trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery
2groove
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March 24, 2026
槽cáo(cao2)
槽 (cáo) refers to a trough or a channel, often used in agricultural or industrial contexts. It can describe physical structures like a manger for animals or a vat in a distillery. Additionally, in modern contexts, particularly in Taiwan, it can refer to a hard drive in computing.
Strokes15Radical木Frequency#8542DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, troughs were essential for feeding livestock, highlighting the importance of animal husbandry in rural life. This practice is still relevant in many parts of China today.
Memory tip
Imagine a cow (cáo sounds like 'cow') drinking from a long, wooden trough (槽). The shape of the character resembles a long container, emphasizing its meaning of holding something, like water or feed.
Meanings of 槽
cáo(cao2)
1trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery
2groove
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 槽 means.
About 槽
槽Simplified
15Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 槽
Podcast: 槽
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AI study notes for 槽
Quick Contrast
槽 (cáo) vs 井 (jǐng): choose 槽 when referring to a trough or channel, while 井 is specifically for a well.
Usage Notes
While '槽' can refer to various types of troughs or channels, it is important to use it in the right context. In informal settings, learners might confuse it with similar words like '槽位' (cáowèi), which specifies a slot or position, so clarity is key.
HSK Study Tips
Although '槽' is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it shares phonetic elements with other HSK words. Students should focus on the character's components: 木 (wood) indicating its material nature, which connects to related HSK vocabulary about objects and nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 槽 with similar characters like 構 (gòu), which means to construct or build. For example, saying '我需要一個構' instead of '我需要一個槽' (I need a trough) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 槽
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 槽 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.
槽 = 木 + 曹. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 槽
IDS Structure⿰木曹
槽Full character
=
木Mu4
left
曹Cao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 槽?
How to say trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery in Chinese
“trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery” in Chinese is槽cáo
槽 (cáo) refers to a trough or a channel, often used in agricultural or industrial contexts. It can describe physical structures like a manger for animals or a vat in a distillery. Additionally, in modern contexts, particularly in Taiwan, it can refer to a hard drive in computing.
When to use 槽
While '槽' can refer to various types of troughs or channels, it is important to use it in the right context. In informal settings, learners might confuse it with similar words like '槽位' (cáowèi), which specifies a slot or position, so clarity is key.
槽 or something close to it
槽 (cáo) vs 井 (jǐng): choose 槽 when referring to a trough or channel, while 井 is specifically for a well.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 槽 with similar characters like 構 (gòu), which means to construct or build. For example, saying '我需要一個構' instead of '我需要一個槽' (I need a trough) would be incorrect.
Write 槽
槽
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Practice writing 槽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 槽
槽 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 4 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
