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徭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
徭yáoconscripted laborn, 13 strokes, radical 彳
徭yáocompulsory serviceunknown, 13 strokes, radical 彳
yáo(yao2) T2
  1. 1conscripted labor
  2. 2compulsory service
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March 24, 2026

徭yáo(yao2)

The character 徭 (yáo) refers to labor that is required by authorities, often associated with conscription for public works or compulsory service. It is commonly used in historical contexts, such as ancient China, where citizens could be mandated to work on state projects. In modern usage, it can refer to any forced labor or obligatory tasks imposed by a government or organization.

Strokes13Radical彳
Cultural Note

In ancient China, conscription for public works was a common practice, such as building the Great Wall or irrigation systems. This historical context of 徭 reflects the central role of labor in supporting the state and its infrastructure.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person laboring under the watchful eye of a ruler, symbolized by the '人' (person) radical on the left side of 徭. The character's form suggests a laborer (人) being compelled (the radical '尤' suggests a sense of urgency or necessity) to fulfill duties, creating a vivid image of conscripted work.

Meanings of 徭

yáo(yao2)
1conscripted labor
2compulsory service
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 徭

徭Simplified
13Strokes
彳Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 徭

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Podcast: 徭

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AI Study Notes for 徭

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone of the word; it should always be pronounced with the second tone (yáo). This word tends to be used in formal contexts, often in historical or legal discussions. Common collocations include '徭役' (yáoyì), which refers to the work performed under compulsory service.

HSK Study Tips

Since 徭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related terms that discuss labor or service, such as 劳动 (láodòng, labor) and 服务 (fúwù, service). Understanding these connections can help reinforce the meaning of 徭 in different contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 徭 with similar characters like 役 (yì, duty) or 劳 (láo, labor). For example, saying '我去徭工' (Wǒ qù yáo gōng) instead of '我去工作' (Wǒ qù gōngzuò, I'm going to work) would be incorrect, as 徭 specifically implies compulsory work.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 徭

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Etymology of 徭

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

step

Semantic (meaning)彳
+
Phonetic (sound)䍃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 徭

  1. 1The meaning half彳 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half䍃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaystep
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 徭? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 徭?

Decomposition of 徭

IDS Structure⿰彳䍃
徭Full Character
=
彳chi4
left
䍃you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 徭?

How to say conscripted labor in Chinese

“conscripted labor” in Chinese is徭yáo

The character 徭 (yáo) refers to labor that is required by authorities, often associated with conscription for public works or compulsory service. It is commonly used in historical contexts, such as ancient China, where citizens could be mandated to work on state projects. In modern usage, it can refer to any forced labor or obligatory tasks imposed by a government or organization.

When to use 徭

Be careful with the tone of the word; it should always be pronounced with the second tone (yáo). This word tends to be used in formal contexts, often in historical or legal discussions. Common collocations include '徭役' (yáoyì), which refers to the work performed under compulsory service.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 徭 with similar characters like 役 (yì, duty) or 劳 (láo, labor). For example, saying '我去徭工' (Wǒ qù yáo gōng) instead of '我去工作' (Wǒ qù gōngzuò, I'm going to work) would be incorrect, as 徭 specifically implies compulsory work.

Write 徭

徭

Practice writing 徭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 徭

Words Containing This Character2
徭役corvee
徭yáocompulsory service
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 徭役 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 徭

Yes, while it is more common in historical texts, it can still appear in discussions about compulsory labor.

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