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尻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kāoend of spine; buttocks, sacrumg, 5 strokes, radical 尸, rank #22879, Hard
kāococcyxunknown, 5 strokes, radical 尸, rank #22879, Hard
kāotailbone at end of spineunknown, 5 strokes, radical 尸, rank #22879, Hard
kāorear joint of meat animalunknown, 5 strokes, radical 尸, rank #22879, Hard
kāo(kao1) T1
  1. 1end of spine; buttocks, sacrum
  2. 2coccyx
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March 24, 2026
kāo(kao1)

The character 尻 (kāo) refers to the lower back part of the body, specifically the buttocks or tailbone area. It can also describe the rear joint of an animal, particularly in culinary contexts. This term is commonly used in both informal and formal settings when discussing anatomy or cooking.

Strokes5RadicalFrequency#22879DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, specific cuts of meat are often referred to using this character, emphasizing the importance of different parts of an animal in cooking. For instance, dishes that feature the tail or rear cuts are considered delicacies in various regional cuisines.

Memory Tip

Think of 尻 as a 'tail' (the radical on top resembles a tail) that connects to the 'bottom' (the radical below). Imagine a tail hanging down from the rear end of an animal, reminding you of both the anatomical and culinary meanings. The sound 'kāo' can be linked to the English word 'cow', which has a prominent rear end.

Meanings of 尻

kāo(kao1)
1end of spine; buttocks, sacrum
2coccyx
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 尻

Simplified
5Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 尻

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AI Study Notes for 尻

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 尻 as a 'tail' (the radical on top resembles a tail) that connects to the 'bottom' (the radical below). Imagine a tail hanging down from the rear end of an animal, reminding you of both the anatomical and culinary meanings. The sound 'kāo' can be linked to the English word 'cow', which has a prominent rear end.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing kāo, as incorrect tones can lead to misunderstandings. It's often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in medical discussions. Common collocations include 尻部 (kāobù), meaning 'buttocks area', and 尻尾 (shūbiǎo), meaning 'tail' (where the character changes).

HSK Study Tips

While 尻 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of anatomical terms. It connects with other body-related words like 背 (bèi, back) and 腰 (yāo, waist). Focus on the pronunciation and application in context, especially in everyday conversations about health or animals.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, specific cuts of meat are often referred to using this character, emphasizing the importance of different parts of an animal in cooking. For instance, dishes that feature the tail or rear cuts are considered delicacies in various regional cuisines.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 尻 with similar-sounding words, such as 喝 (hē, to drink) due to tonal similarities. Ensure you practice the correct tone to avoid this confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 尻

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Etymology of 尻

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

body

Semantic (meaning)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 尻?

Decomposition of 尻

IDS Structure⿸尸九
Full Character
=
shi1
enclosing
jiu3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 尻?

Write 尻

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

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Cultural Notes for 尻

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, specific cuts of meat are often referred to using this character, emphasizing the importance of different parts of an animal in cooking. For instance, dishes that feature the tail or rear cuts are considered delicacies in various regional cuisines.

Word Family of 尻

Words Containing This Character1
kāococcyx
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 尻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 尻

Common phrases include 尻部 (kāobù) for 'buttocks' and 尻尾 (shūbiǎo) for 'tail', which highlight its anatomical significance.