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March 24, 2026
焦Jiāo(Jiao1)
The character 焦 (jiāo) primarily means 'burnt' or 'scorched,' often used to describe food that has been overcooked or an object that has been charred. Additionally, it conveys feelings of anxiety or worry, making it versatile in both culinary and emotional contexts.
Strokes12Radical灬Frequency#5077DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is highly regarded, and a common phrase is '焦了' (jiāo le) to jokingly refer to overcooked dishes during meals, highlighting the importance of cooking perfectly. Anxiety is also a common theme, especially in competitive environments like education and work.
Memory Tip
Imagine a piece of toast that has been left in the toaster too long, turning焦 (jiāo) and becoming burnt. The character looks like a flame rising from a charred surface, reminding you of the heat that causes焦 to happen.
Meanings of 焦
Jiāo(Jiao1)
1burnt
2scorched
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 焦
焦Simplified
12Strokes
灬Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5077Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 焦
Podcast: 焦
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AI Study Notes for 焦
Quick Contrast
焦 (burnt) vs 烧 (burn) — use 焦 when referring specifically to something that is overcooked or scorched, while 烧 can refer to the act of burning without the connotation of overcooking.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a piece of toast that has been left in the toaster too long, turning焦 (jiāo) and becoming burnt. The character looks like a flame rising from a charred surface, reminding you of the heat that causes焦 to happen.
Usage Notes
焦 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it’s essential to differentiate its meanings based on context. Common collocations include 焦虑 (jiāo lǜ, anxious) and 焦糖 (jiāo táng, caramelized sugar). Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
焦 is not currently included in the HSK levels, but it's useful for learners who are progressing to more advanced vocabulary. Focus on its dual meanings—physical (burnt) and emotional (anxious)—to enrich your understanding of context in conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is highly regarded, and a common phrase is '焦了' (jiāo le) to jokingly refer to overcooked dishes during meals, highlighting the importance of cooking perfectly. Anxiety is also a common theme, especially in competitive environments like education and work.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 焦 with similar characters like 烧 (shāo). For example, saying '我很烧' (wǒ hěn shāo) to express anxiety is incorrect; the correct form is '我很焦虑' (wǒ hěn jiāo lǜ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 焦
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Grammar Patterns of 焦
焦 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 8 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.
An anxious or depressed person can experience a really bad trip.
6
当意外事件干扰了你的生活时，你会感到焦虑吗？
dāng yì wài shì jiàn gān rǎo le nǐ de shēng huó shí， ， nǐ huì gǎn dào jiāo lǜ？
Do you feel anxious when unforeseen incidents intrude on your day?
7
他们匆匆地走来走去，一言不发，面露焦急之色。
tā mén cōng cōng dì zǒu lái zǒu qù， ， yī yán bù， fā ， miàn lòu jiāo jí。
They hurried about in dead silence, with anxious faces.
8
她在梦中焦虑不安，反映了她白天生活的基调。
tā zài mèng zhōng jiāo lǜ bù ān， ， fǎn yìng le tā bái tiān shēng huó de jī。
Her dreams were troubled, reflecting the tenor of her waking hours.
9
他焦急万分地对着电话那头的她大喊大叫。
tā jiāo jí wàn fēn dì duì zháo diàn huà nà tóu de tā dà hǎn dà jiào。
He had shouted down the phone at her, beside himself with anxiety.
10
斯托克斯先生可以预见下一周会被枯燥繁重的宣传工作搞得焦头烂额。
sī tuō kè sī xiān shēng kě yǐ yù jiàn xià yī zhōu huì bèi kū zào fán zhòng de xuān chuán gōng zuò gǎo dé jiāo tóu làn é。
Mr Stocks can expect a gruelling week on the publicity treadmill.
Cultural Notes for 焦
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food is highly regarded, and a common phrase is '焦了' (jiāo le) to jokingly refer to overcooked dishes during meals, highlighting the importance of cooking perfectly. Anxiety is also a common theme, especially in competitive environments like education and work.
Word Family of 焦
Compounds24
瞧qiao2to look at
蕉jiao1banana
礁jiao1jetty, reef
憔qiao2worn-out, haggard, emaciated
樵qiao2firewood; lumberjack; to gather wood
醮jiao4to anoint, to perform a rite; Daoist or Buddhist ceremony
僬Jiao1clever, alert; pigmy
劁qiao1to castrate, to neuter
噍jiao4to chew, to eat, to munch
燋
膲jiao1the triple foci, the three visceral cavities
蟭jiao1mite, larva; mantis egg
谯Qiao2tower; to ridicule, to blame; surname
鹪jiao1wren
嫶
嶕
嶣
撨
潐
癄
穛
譙qiao2tower; to ridicule, to blame; surname
趭
鐎
Words Containing This Character20
焦点jiāodiǎnfocus焦點
焦Jiāoburnt
焦虑jiāolǜanxious焦慮
焦急jiāojíanxiety
聚焦to focus
焦躁jiāozàofretful
焦头烂额fig. hard-pressed焦頭爛額
焦距jiāojùfocal length
对焦focusing對焦
焦糖caramel
焦炭coke (processed coal used in blast furnace)
焦虑不安worried too much焦慮不安
焦油tar
焦化to distill
焦耳joule (loanword)
烧焦to burn燒焦
焦作Jiaozuo prefecture-level city in Henan
焦黄sallow焦黃
焦灼(literary) deeply worried
心焦worried
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瞧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 焦
You can say '这块肉焦了' (zhè kuài ròu jiāo le) meaning 'This piece of meat is burnt.'
焦 emphasizes being burnt or scorched, while 烧 (shāo) generally means 'to burn' or 'to cook' without the implication of being overdone.
Yes, 焦 can describe feelings of anxiety or worry, such as in the phrase '我很焦虑' (wǒ hěn jiāo lǜ), meaning 'I am very anxious.'
