Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
撬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
撬qiàoto lift, to raise, to pry off a lidHSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Very Hard
撬qiàoto pry openHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Very Hard
撬qiàoto lever openHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6365, Very Hard
qiào(qiao4) T4
  1. 1to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid
  2. 2to pry open
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

撬qiào(qiao4)

撬 (qiào) means to lift or pry something open, typically using a tool or lever. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions like opening a lid or removing something that is fixed in place. The nuance often implies using force or effort to achieve the action.

Strokes15Radical扌Frequency#6365DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese carpentry, tools resembling what we call 'pry bars' are often used to manipulate wooden structures, and the concept of lifting or prying is integral to craftsmanship.

Memory Tip

Imagine a crowbar (撬) lifting a heavy lid off a box. The character has a strong, sturdy look to it, like the crowbar itself. Connect the sound 'qiào' to 'crow' (as in crowbar) to help remember its meaning.

Meanings of 撬

qiào(qiao4)
1to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid
2to pry open
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 撬 means.

About 撬

撬Simplified
15Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 撬

JasonAmy

Podcast: 撬

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 撬

Quick Contrast

撬 (qiào) vs 拆 (chāi) — use 撬 when emphasizing lifting or prying open, while 拆 focuses on taking apart or dismantling.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 撬 is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to physical actions. It can be confused with other lifting verbs like 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are more general. Common collocations include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).

HSK Study Tips

Although 撬 is not in the official HSK list, it connects with other action verbs related to physical movement found in lower levels, such as 提 (tí, lift) and 拿 (ná, take). Focus on its usage in practical scenarios to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 撬 with 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are also related to lifting but used in different contexts. For example, saying '我撬起这个盒子' (wǒ qiàoqǐ zhège hézi, I pry up this box) is incorrect; it should be '我提起这个盒子' (wǒ tíqǐ zhège hézi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 撬

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 撬 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 撬 to You

Let me explain 撬 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 撬 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 撬?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 撬 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 撬

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

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)毳
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

撬 = 扌 + 毳. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 撬

IDS Structure⿰扌毳
撬Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
毳cui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 撬?

How to say to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid in Chinese

“to lift, to raise, to pry off a lid” in Chinese is撬qiào

撬 (qiào) means to lift or pry something open, typically using a tool or lever. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions like opening a lid or removing something that is fixed in place. The nuance often implies using force or effort to achieve the action.

When to use 撬

Be mindful that 撬 is often used in informal contexts, especially when referring to physical actions. It can be confused with other lifting verbs like 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are more general. Common collocations include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).

撬 or something close to it

撬 (qiào) vs 拆 (chāi) — use 撬 when emphasizing lifting or prying open, while 拆 focuses on taking apart or dismantling.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 撬 with 提 (tí) or 抬 (tái), which are also related to lifting but used in different contexts. For example, saying '我撬起这个盒子' (wǒ qiàoqǐ zhège hézi, I pry up this box) is incorrect; it should be '我提起这个盒子' (wǒ tíqǐ zhège hézi).

Write 撬

撬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 撬

撬 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我和艾莉森只得从他口中____出谈话内容。

Alison and I had to prize conversation out of him.

Example Sentences for 撬 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我和艾莉森只得从他口中撬出谈话内容。

wǒ hé ài lì sēn zhī dé cóng tā kǒu zhōng qiào chū tán huà nèi róng。

Alison and I had to prize conversation out of him.
2
他熟练地撬开每一把锁,把每个抽屉里的文件都偷走了。

tā shú liàn dì qiào kāi měi yī bǎ suǒ, , bǎ měi gè chōu tì lǐ de wén jiàn dū tōu zǒu。

He picked each lock deftly, and rifled the papers within each drawer.
3
有人强行撬开落地窗上的锁闯入屋里。

yǒu rén qiáng háng qiào kāi luò dì chuāng shàng de suǒ chuǎng rù wū lǐ。

An intruder forced open a lock on French windows at the house.
4
窃贼沿一根水管爬上去撬开窗户.

qiè zéi yán yī gēn shuǐ guǎn pá shàng qù qiào kāi chuāng hù.

Thieves shinned up a drainpipe and forced open the window.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 撬?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 撬

Words Containing This Character5
撬qiàoto lift
撬开to pry open撬開
撬棍crowbar
撬杠crowbar撬槓
撬棒crowbar
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 撬

What does 撬开 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 撬

Common phrases include 撬开 (qiàokāi, to pry open) and 撬门 (qiàomén, to pry open a door).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 撬?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab