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皋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
皋gāothe high land along a riverg, 10 strokes, radical 白, rank #81286, Very Hard
皋gāobankunknown, 10 strokes, radical 白, rank #81286, Very Hard
皋gāomarshunknown, 10 strokes, radical 白, rank #81286, Very Hard
gāo(gao1) T1
  1. 1the high land along a river
  2. 2bank
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

皋gāo(gao1)

The character 皋 (gāo) refers to the elevated land or bank along a river, often associated with marshy areas. It signifies a geographic feature that is typically higher than the surrounding terrain, highlighting its importance in describing landscapes related to waterways.

Strokes10Radical白Frequency#81286DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, rivers were vital for agriculture and transportation, making the concept of riverbanks (皋) significant in poetry and literature. Many classical poems depict serene landscapes featuring rivers and their banks, emphasizing the beauty of nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall, proud rooster (gāo sounds like 'gall') standing on a riverbank. The rooster represents height (think 'high land'), and the riverbank is the 皋, creating a vivid image of elevation by the water.

Meanings of 皋

gāo(gao1)
1the high land along a river
2bank
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 皋

皋Simplified
10Strokes
白Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 皋

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Podcast: 皋

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 皋

Usage Notes

皋 is a formal term often found in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its specific usage relates to geographical features, so it may not fit well in casual discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 皋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of classical Chinese texts. Focus on recognizing its context in poetry and historical writings to better appreciate its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 皋 in everyday conversation, thinking it is a common term like 'bank' in English. Instead, it is more appropriate in literary contexts; use '河岸' (hé'àn) for everyday riverbank discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 皋

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Etymology of 皋

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Phonetic (sound)夲
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 皋

  1. 1The sound half夲 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  2. 2On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 皋? 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 皋?

Decomposition of 皋

IDS Structure⿱白夲
皋Full Character
=
白Bai2
top
夲tao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 皋?

How to say the high land along a river in Chinese

“the high land along a river” in Chinese is皋gāo

The character 皋 (gāo) refers to the elevated land or bank along a river, often associated with marshy areas. It signifies a geographic feature that is typically higher than the surrounding terrain, highlighting its importance in describing landscapes related to waterways.

When to use 皋

皋 is a formal term often found in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its specific usage relates to geographical features, so it may not fit well in casual discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 皋 in everyday conversation, thinking it is a common term like 'bank' in English. Instead, it is more appropriate in literary contexts; use '河岸' (hé'àn) for everyday riverbank discussions.

Write 皋

皋

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 皋

Words Containing This Character7
皋gāobank
如皋Rugao county level city in Nantong 南通[Nán​tōng], Jiangsu
如皋市Rugao county level city in Nantong 南通[Nán​tōng], Jiangsu
皋兰县Gaolan county in Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lán​zhōu], Gansu皋蘭縣
皋兰Gaolan county in Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lán​zhōu], Gansu皋蘭
岚皋县Langao County in Ankang 安康[An​kāng], Shaanxi嵐皋縣
岚皋Langao County in Ankang 安康[An​kāng], Shaanxi嵐皋
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 皋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 皋

It is primarily used in literary contexts to refer to riverbanks or elevated land.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 皋?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.