to lift, to raise; to provoke, to tease; to push aside clothing
v, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liāo
to lift up (sth hanging down)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liāo
to raise (hem of skirt)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liāo
to pull up (sleeve)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liāo
to stir up (emotions)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liāo
to sprinkle (water with cupped hands)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to lift, to raise; to provoke, to tease; to push aside clothing
v, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to lift up (sth hanging down)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to raise (hem of skirt)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to pull up (sleeve)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to stir up (emotions)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
撩
liáo
to sprinkle (water with cupped hands)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #18114, Hard
liāo(liao1)
primary
T1
1to lift, to raise; to provoke, to tease; to push aside clothing
2to lift up (sth hanging down)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
撩liāo(liao1)
The character 撩 (liāo) primarily means to lift or raise something, but it is also commonly used to indicate teasing or provoking someone, often in a playful or flirtatious manner. In social contexts, it can refer to stirring up emotions or engaging in light-hearted banter, especially in romantic interactions.
Strokes15Radical扌Frequency#18114DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In contemporary Chinese culture, 撩 has gained popularity in online dating and social media contexts, reflecting a more playful attitude towards flirting and interaction among younger generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone lifting the hem of their skirt to tease a friend while playfully splashing water with their cupped hands. The left side of the character, 手 (shǒu), represents 'hand,' reminding you that this action involves a physical gesture, while the right side, 尺 (chǐ), suggests measuring or raising something up.
Meanings of 撩
liāo(liao1)
primary
1to lift, to raise; to provoke, to tease; to push aside clothing
2to lift up (sth hanging down)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 撩
撩Simplified
15Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 撩
Podcast: 撩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 撩
Quick Contrast
调 (tiáo) - use 撩 (liāo) when referring specifically to playful teasing or flirting, whereas 调 (tiáo) indicates adjusting or tuning something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine someone lifting the hem of their skirt to tease a friend while playfully splashing water with their cupped hands. The left side of the character, 手 (shǒu), represents 'hand,' reminding you that this action involves a physical gesture, while the right side, 尺 (chǐ), suggests measuring or raising something up.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone and context when using 撩, as it can imply flirtation which may not always be appropriate in formal settings. It’s often used in informal conversations among friends or in romantic contexts. A common collocation is 撩人 (liāo rén), meaning 'to tease someone.'
HSK Study Tips
While 撩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at higher levels who are engaging in modern colloquial Chinese. Students should practice both its literal and figurative uses, particularly in social situations.
Cultural Note
In contemporary Chinese culture, 撩 has gained popularity in online dating and social media contexts, reflecting a more playful attitude towards flirting and interaction among younger generations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 撩 with other similar verbs like 挑 (tiǎo), which means to pick or select, leading to incorrect phrases like 撩衣服 (liāo yīfú) when they meant to say 'pick clothes.' The correct context for 撩 should involve teasing or lifting in a playful manner.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 撩
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Grammar Patterns of 撩
撩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
场面非常刺激____人，我感到欲火难耐。
It was extremely hot and I was feeling rather randy.
David knelt, cupped his hands and splashed river water on to his face.
Cultural Notes for 撩
🏮Cultural insight
In contemporary Chinese culture, 撩 has gained popularity in online dating and social media contexts, reflecting a more playful attitude towards flirting and interaction among younger generations.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, teasing may also be playful, but it often lacks the romantic undertone that 撩 carries in Chinese contexts, which can lead to different interpretations of intentions.
Word Family of 撩
Words Containing This Character9
撩liāoto pull up (sleeve)
撩人to attract
撩拨to provoke撩撥
撩开to toss aside撩開
撩起to raise
撩乱dazzled撩亂
撩动to stir up撩動
撩逗to provoke
撩惹to provoke
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 撩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撩
No, 撩 is predominantly used in informal contexts and is not suitable for formal writing.
It is pronounced as 'liāo', with a high level tone.
While it often refers to teasing in a romantic context, it can also mean to provoke or stir up emotions in general.
