Meanings of 拗
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Podcast: 拗
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AI Study Notes for 拗
拗 (ǎo) vs 倔 (juè) — use 拗 for physical pulling or bending, while 倔 emphasizes stubbornness in attitude.
This character is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's stubbornness. Learners should be cautious with tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. A common collocation is 拗口 (ǎokǒu), which means to be hard to say. Avoid confusing 拗 (ǎo) with the similar sounding 拗 (ào), which has a different meaning.
Although 拗 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 vocabulary related to personality traits and actions. Students should focus on differentiating between the tones and understanding its uses in describing behavior.
Learners often confuse 拗 (ǎo) with its variant pronunciation 拗 (ào), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember to use the correct tone depending on the intended meaning.
Pronunciation of 拗
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Etymology of 拗
hand
Origin
拗 = 扌 + 幼. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 拗
Parts
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How to say to pull, to drag; perverse, obstinate; bent, warped in Chinese
“to pull, to drag; perverse, obstinate; bent, warped” in Chinese is拗
The character 拗 (ǎo) primarily means to pull or drag, but it also conveys the idea of being obstinate or perverse. It can describe something that is bent or warped, or refer to a person who is stubborn or defies authority. This duality in meaning makes it applicable in various contexts, from physical actions to personality traits.
When to use 拗
This character is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's stubbornness. Learners should be cautious with tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. A common collocation is 拗口 (ǎokǒu), which means to be hard to say. Avoid confusing 拗 (ǎo) with the similar sounding 拗 (ào), which has a different meaning.
拗 or something close to it
拗 (ǎo) vs 倔 (juè) — use 拗 for physical pulling or bending, while 倔 emphasizes stubbornness in attitude.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拗 (ǎo) with its variant pronunciation 拗 (ào), leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember to use the correct tone depending on the intended meaning.
Write 拗
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Practice writing 拗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 拗
拗 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 5 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.
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它读起来很____口。
It reads very awkwardly.
Example Sentences for 拗 (3)
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Word Family of 拗
Words with 拗
What does 执拗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拗
The difference lies in their tones and meanings; 拗 (ǎo) relates to being obstinate or pulling, while 拗 (ào) is a variant that can imply disobedience.
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