HSK 7, ng, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
groove
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
channel
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
槽
cáo
(Tw) (computing) hard drive
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #8542, Very Hard
cáo(cao2) T2
1trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery
2groove
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
槽cáo(cao2)
槽 (cáo) refers to a trough or a channel, often used in agricultural or industrial contexts. It can describe physical structures like a manger for animals or a vat in a distillery. Additionally, in modern contexts, particularly in Taiwan, it can refer to a hard drive in computing.
Strokes15Radical木Frequency#8542DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, troughs were essential for feeding livestock, highlighting the importance of animal husbandry in rural life. This practice is still relevant in many parts of China today.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cow (cáo sounds like 'cow') drinking from a long, wooden trough (槽). The shape of the character resembles a long container, emphasizing its meaning of holding something, like water or feed.
Meanings of 槽
cáo(cao2)
1trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery
2groove
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 槽
槽Simplified
15Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 槽
Podcast: 槽
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 槽
Quick Contrast
槽 (cáo) vs 井 (jǐng): choose 槽 when referring to a trough or channel, while 井 is specifically for a well.
Usage Notes
While '槽' can refer to various types of troughs or channels, it is important to use it in the right context. In informal settings, learners might confuse it with similar words like '槽位' (cáowèi), which specifies a slot or position, so clarity is key.
HSK Study Tips
Although '槽' is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it shares phonetic elements with other HSK words. Students should focus on the character's components: 木 (wood) indicating its material nature, which connects to related HSK vocabulary about objects and nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 槽 with similar characters like 構 (gòu), which means to construct or build. For example, saying '我需要一個構' instead of '我需要一個槽' (I need a trough) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 槽
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 槽 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half曹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywood
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 槽? 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 槽?
Decomposition of 槽
IDS Structure⿰木曹
槽Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
曹Cao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 槽?
How to say trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery in Chinese
“trough, manger; vat, tank; distillery” in Chinese is槽cáo
槽 (cáo) refers to a trough or a channel, often used in agricultural or industrial contexts. It can describe physical structures like a manger for animals or a vat in a distillery. Additionally, in modern contexts, particularly in Taiwan, it can refer to a hard drive in computing.
When to use 槽
While '槽' can refer to various types of troughs or channels, it is important to use it in the right context. In informal settings, learners might confuse it with similar words like '槽位' (cáowèi), which specifies a slot or position, so clarity is key.
槽 or something close to it
槽 (cáo) vs 井 (jǐng): choose 槽 when referring to a trough or channel, while 井 is specifically for a well.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 槽 with similar characters like 構 (gòu), which means to construct or build. For example, saying '我需要一個構' instead of '我需要一個槽' (I need a trough) would be incorrect.
Write 槽
槽
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 槽 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 槽
槽 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
