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笤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笤tiáobroom, besomn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮
tiáo(tiao2) T2
  1. 1broom, besom
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笤tiáo(tiao2)

The character 笤 (tiáo) refers to a broom, a common cleaning tool used to sweep floors and clear debris. It is often found in domestic contexts, indicating its importance in maintaining cleanliness in homes and public spaces.

Strokes11Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and sweeping is often associated with welcoming good luck and fortune. Using a broom like 笤 is part of rituals during the Lunar New Year to sweep away bad luck.

Memory Tip

Imagine a broom sweeping away dirt, and visualize the character 笤 as a 'tall' broom made of thin, long sticks. The radical '竹' (bamboo) hints at its material, while the sound 'tiáo' can remind you of 'tall'—the height of a broom as it reaches the corners of a room.

Meanings of 笤

tiáo(tiao2)
1broom, besom
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 笤 means.

About 笤

笤Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笤

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Podcast: 笤

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AI Study Notes for 笤

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 笤 with other cleaning tools like 扫帚 (sàozhou), which specifically means 'broom' in a broader sense. 笤 is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's best to use it in written contexts or when discussing specific types of brooms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 笤 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can help learners connect with related words about cleaning tools and household items. Focus on the radicals and components to enhance recognition in similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 笤 in contexts where 扫帚 is more appropriate, as it's less familiar. For example, saying '我买了一个笤' (Wǒ mǎile yīgè tiáo) instead of '我买了一个扫帚' (Wǒ mǎile yīgè sàozhou) can confuse native speakers.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笤

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Jason Explains 笤 to You

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Etymology of 笤

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

bamboo

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

Origin

笤 = ⺮ + 召. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 笤

IDS Structure⿱⺮召
笤Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
召Shao4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 笤?

How to say broom, besom in Chinese

“broom, besom” in Chinese is笤tiáo

The character 笤 (tiáo) refers to a broom, a common cleaning tool used to sweep floors and clear debris. It is often found in domestic contexts, indicating its importance in maintaining cleanliness in homes and public spaces.

When to use 笤

Learners often confuse 笤 with other cleaning tools like 扫帚 (sàozhou), which specifically means 'broom' in a broader sense. 笤 is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's best to use it in written contexts or when discussing specific types of brooms.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 笤 in contexts where 扫帚 is more appropriate, as it's less familiar. For example, saying '我买了一个笤' (Wǒ mǎile yīgè tiáo) instead of '我买了一个扫帚' (Wǒ mǎile yīgè sàozhou) can confuse native speakers.

Write 笤

笤

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

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Word Family of 笤

Words Containing This Character2
笤帚whisk broom
笤tiáobroom
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 笤

What does 笤帚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 笤

笤 specifically refers to a type of broom made from bamboo or thin sticks, while 扫帚 is a more general term for any kind of broom.

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