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March 24, 2026
潦草()liáocǎo(liao2cao3)
The term 潦草 (liao2 cao3) describes something that is done in a careless or hasty manner, often leading to sloppiness. It can refer to both physical appearances, like messy handwriting, and behaviors indicating a lack of attention to detail. This word often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a disregard for quality or precision.
Frequency#44311DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, attention to detail is often highly valued, especially in calligraphy and handwriting. A 潦草 style of writing could be seen as disrespectful, particularly in formal documents or artistic expressions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'liar' (sounds like 'liao') hastily writing a 'cow' (sounds like 'cao') on a muddy surface. The resulting mess is a perfect representation of 潦草, symbolizing sloppy work or illegible handwriting.
Meanings of 潦草
liáocǎo(liao2cao3)
1careless
2slovenly
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About 潦草
潦草Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 潦草
Podcast: 潦草
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AI Study Notes for 潦草
Quick Contrast
草率 (cǎoshuài) - use 潦草 for a focus on sloppiness due to carelessness, while 草率 emphasizes hastiness in decision-making or actions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'liar' (sounds like 'liao') hastily writing a 'cow' (sounds like 'cao') on a muddy surface. The resulting mess is a perfect representation of 潦草, symbolizing sloppy work or illegible handwriting.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 潦草, as it can imply criticism of someone's work ethic or skills. It's generally used in informal contexts, so avoid it in formal writing. Common collocations include 潦草的字 (sloppy handwriting) or 潦草的作业 (careless homework).
HSK Study Tips
While 潦草 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to words related to quality and appearance. Focus on understanding its nuances in describing work and presentation, as this will help broaden your vocabulary in similar contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, attention to detail is often highly valued, especially in calligraphy and handwriting. A 潦草 style of writing could be seen as disrespectful, particularly in formal documents or artistic expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 潦草 with similar words like 整齐 (zheng3 qi2, meaning neat). For instance, saying '他的字很整齐' (His handwriting is slovenly) instead of '他的字很潦草' would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 潦草
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Cultural Notes for 潦草
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, attention to detail is often highly valued, especially in calligraphy and handwriting. A 潦草 style of writing could be seen as disrespectful, particularly in formal documents or artistic expressions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 潦草
No, 潦草 can describe any work or effort that is done carelessly, not just handwriting.
潦草 is generally used in informal contexts and can be perceived as a critique.
The opposite would be 精致 (jing1 zhi4), meaning exquisite or meticulous.
