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瓢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瓢piáoa ladle made from a dried gourdn, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
瓢piáodipperunknown, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
瓢piáoladleunknown, 16 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #32201, Very Hard
piáo(piao2) T2
  1. 1a ladle made from a dried gourd
  2. 2dipper
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

瓢piáo(piao2)

The character 瓢 (piáo) refers to a type of ladle or dipper traditionally made from a dried gourd. It is commonly used in cooking and serving liquids, such as soups or sauces, and is a practical tool in both historical and modern Chinese kitchens.

Strokes16Radical瓜Frequency#32201DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, using a gourd as a ladle reflects resourcefulness and a connection to nature, as many household items were made from natural materials. This practice ties into the broader cultural appreciation for sustainability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gourd (the shape of 瓢) being hollowed out to create a ladle. The top part of the character resembles the curve of a ladle, while the bottom suggests its handle. Picture yourself using this gourd ladle to serve soup, and remember the sound 'piáo' as you pour.

Meanings of 瓢

piáo(piao2)
1a ladle made from a dried gourd
2dipper
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 瓢

瓢Simplified
16Strokes
瓜Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瓢

JasonAmy

Podcast: 瓢

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 瓢

Usage Notes

When using 瓢 in conversation, be mindful that it can sound informal, so it’s best suited for everyday contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 勺 (sháo), which means 'spoon'. Ensure you use the correct word based on the utensil you’re referring to.

HSK Study Tips

While 瓢 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it can be relevant for learners interested in cooking-related terms. Students should focus on related utensils like 勺 (sháo) and 叉 (chā), which are also common in kitchen discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 瓢 as 'piǎo' instead of the correct 'piáo'. Additionally, some confuse it with 勺 (sháo), leading to incorrect usage in context; always clarify whether you're referring to a ladle or a spoon.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瓢

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Etymology of 瓢

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

Phonosemantic compound. 瓜 represents the meaning and 票 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

gourd

Semantic (meaning)瓜
+
Phonetic (sound)票
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 瓢

Phonosemantic compound. 瓜 represents the meaning and 票 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half瓜 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half票 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygourd
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 瓢? 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 瓢?

Decomposition of 瓢

IDS Structure⿰票瓜
瓢Full Character
=
票piao4
left
瓜gua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 瓢?

How to say a ladle made from a dried gourd in Chinese

“a ladle made from a dried gourd” in Chinese is瓢piáo

The character 瓢 (piáo) refers to a type of ladle or dipper traditionally made from a dried gourd. It is commonly used in cooking and serving liquids, such as soups or sauces, and is a practical tool in both historical and modern Chinese kitchens.

When to use 瓢

When using 瓢 in conversation, be mindful that it can sound informal, so it’s best suited for everyday contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 勺 (sháo), which means 'spoon'. Ensure you use the correct word based on the utensil you’re referring to.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 瓢 as 'piǎo' instead of the correct 'piáo'. Additionally, some confuse it with 勺 (sháo), leading to incorrect usage in context; always clarify whether you're referring to a ladle or a spoon.

Write 瓢

瓢

Practice writing 瓢 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 瓢

瓢 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 3 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 5

Complete the Sentence

下了一上午的____泼大雨, 后来才转晴.

It poured all morning, but turned fine later.

Example Sentences for 瓢 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
下了一上午的瓢泼大雨, 后来才转晴.

xià le yī shàng wǔ de piáo pō dà yǔ, , hòu lái cái zhuǎn.

It poured all morning, but turned fine later.
2
昨晚还下着瓢泼大雨, 但是早晨就变晴了.

zuó wǎn huán xià zháo piáo pō dà yǔ, , dàn shì zǎo chén jiù biàn qíng.

It rained and dogs night, but cleared up in the morning.
3
汤姆奚落了他一番,给他兜头泼了瓢冷水.

tāng mǔ xī luò le tā yī fān, , gěi tā dōu tóu pō le piáo lěng.

Tom withered him with derision!
4
甚至秃光瓢也太红了一些.

shèn zhì tū guāng piáo yě tài hóng le yī xiē.

Even the bald scalp was too deep a pink.

Word Family of 瓢

Words Containing This Character6
瓢piáodipper
瓢虫ladybug瓢蟲
瓢泼大雨downpour (idiom)瓢潑大雨
照葫芦画瓢fig. to copy slavishly照葫蘆畫瓢
瓢泼(of rain) pouring瓢潑
按下葫芦浮起瓢solve one problem only to find another cropping up按下葫蘆浮起瓢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 瓢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 瓢

瓢 refers specifically to a ladle made from a gourd, while 勺 is a general term for a spoon.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 瓢?

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.