HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1355, Medium
吵
chǎo
to make a noise
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1355, Medium
吵
chǎo
noisy
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1355, Medium
吵
chǎo
to disturb by making a noise
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1355, Medium
吵
chǎo
to argue, to dispute; to annoy, to disturb
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1355, Medium
chǎo(chao3) T3
1to quarrel
2to make a noise
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March 24, 2026
吵chǎo(chao3)
The character 吵 (chǎo) primarily means 'to quarrel' or 'to make a noise.' It is commonly used in situations involving arguments or disturbances, often in a loud or disruptive manner. The nuance can imply annoyance caused by noise or conflict, whether it's between people or in noisy environments.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#1355DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, arguments are often viewed differently than in some Western contexts, where public displays of conflict may be frowned upon. The word 吵 is frequently used in discussions about family dynamics, reflecting the cultural acceptance of open disagreement within families.
Memory Tip
Imagine a loud, squawking parrot (the sound 'chao') that just won't stop making noise. The character 吵 has the '口' (kǒu) radical, which means 'mouth,' reminding you that it's all about noise and speaking—especially when people are arguing.
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AI Study Notes for 吵
Quick Contrast
吵 (chǎo) vs 喧 (xuān): Use 吵 for noise related to quarrels or disturbances, while 喧 refers more to loudness or clamor without the implication of conflict.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a loud, squawking parrot (the sound 'chao') that just won't stop making noise. The character 吵 has the '口' (kǒu) radical, which means 'mouth,' reminding you that it's all about noise and speaking—especially when people are arguing.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 吵 with other similar-sounding words like 吵闹 (chǎonào), which means 'to make a racket.' This word is informal and often used in everyday conversations, so it’s best suited for casual contexts rather than formal situations. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 吵 connects well with other verbs related to communication and sound, such as 说 (shuō) meaning 'to speak' or 大声 (dàshēng) meaning 'loudly.' Focus on using it in sentences about arguments or noisy environments to build contextual understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, arguments are often viewed differently than in some Western contexts, where public displays of conflict may be frowned upon. The word 吵 is frequently used in discussions about family dynamics, reflecting the cultural acceptance of open disagreement within families.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 吵 with 嘈 (cáo), which also means 'noisy' but is less commonly used. A common error is saying 吵声音 (chǎo shēngyīn) instead of just 吵. The correct phrase would simply be 吵.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吵
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Grammar Patterns of 吵
吵 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 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Stewart has developed a tendency to mix it verbally with the opposition.
Cultural Notes for 吵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, arguments are often viewed differently than in some Western contexts, where public displays of conflict may be frowned upon. The word 吵 is frequently used in discussions about family dynamics, reflecting the cultural acceptance of open disagreement within families.
Word Family of 吵
Words Containing This Character10
吵chǎonoisy
吵架chǎojiàto quarrel
争吵zhēngchǎoto quarrel爭吵
吵闹noisy吵鬧
大吵大闹to make a scene大吵大鬧
吵吵to quarrel
吵嘴chǎozuǐto quarrel
吵嚷clamour
吵闹声noise吵鬧聲
吵吵嚷嚷to make an (unnecessary) racket (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吵 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吵
Synonyms for 吵 include 嘈杂 (cáozá), which means noisy, and 喧闹 (xuān nào), meaning tumultuous or loud. These words can also be used to describe similar noisy situations but may carry slightly different connotations.
The opposite of 吵 is 安静 (ānjìng), which means quiet or peaceful. While 吵 conveys noise and disturbance, 安静 refers to a calm and serene environment, highlighting the contrast between the two states.
吵 (chǎo) means 'to quarrel' or 'to make a noise.' It can refer to both noisy situations and arguments between people. This character is often used in contexts where there is disturbance due to sound.
You can use 吵 in sentences like '他们在吵架' (tāmen zài chǎojià), which means 'They are quarreling.' Another example is '这个地方很吵' (zhège dìfāng hěn chǎo), meaning 'This place is very noisy.' It’s a versatile verb that can describe both arguments and loud environments.
Generally, 吵 is informal and best used in casual conversations, not in formal writing or speech.
Common phrases include 吵架 (chǎojià) meaning 'to quarrel' and 吵闹 (chǎonào) meaning 'to make noise'.
While it often has a negative connotation related to disturbance or conflict, it can also describe lively, noisy gatherings in a less severe context.
