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对照 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
对照duìzhàoto contrastHSK 7, p, rank #19308, Hard
对照duìzhàoto compareHSK 7, p, rank #19308, Hard
对照duìzhàoto place side by side for comparison (as parallel texts)HSK 7, p, rank #19308, Hard
对照duìzhàoto checkHSK 7, p, rank #19308, Hard
duìzhào(dui4zhao4) T4
  1. 1to contrast
  2. 2to compare
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March 24, 2026
对照(對照)duìzhào(dui4zhao4)

对照 (duìzhào) means to contrast or compare two or more items side by side. This term is often used in academic contexts, such as comparing texts or data, as well as in everyday situations where one might check or verify information against another source.

Frequency#19308DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese education, the practice of 对照 is integral to critical thinking, often seen in literature and research where texts are analyzed side by side for deeper insight.

Memory Tip

Think of 对 (duì) as a pair (two things facing each other) and 照 (zhào) as a reflection or image. Imagine holding two mirrors facing each other, reflecting back and forth, which symbolizes the act of comparing or contrasting.

Meanings of 对照

duìzhào(dui4zhao4)
1to contrast
2to compare
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 对照

对照Simplified
對照Traditional
Strokes
Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#19308Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 对照

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Podcast: 对照

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AI Study Notes for 对照

Quick Contrast

对比 (duìbǐ) — use 对照 when emphasizing verification or checking against a standard, while 对比 focuses more on the act of comparison itself.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 对 (duì) as a pair (two things facing each other) and 照 (zhào) as a reflection or image. Imagine holding two mirrors facing each other, reflecting back and forth, which symbolizes the act of comparing or contrasting.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 对照, as it often appears in formal or academic settings. Common collocations include 对照分析 (duìzhào fēnxī - contrast analysis) and 对照表 (duìzhào biǎo - comparison table). Ensure you use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 6, students should focus on using 对照 in both written and spoken contexts, especially in discussions that require analyzing or comparing ideas. Connecting it with other comparison-related vocabulary, like 比较 (bǐjiào - to compare), can enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese education, the practice of 对照 is integral to critical thinking, often seen in literature and research where texts are analyzed side by side for deeper insight.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 对照 with 比较, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我们需要比较这两篇文章' (We need to contrast these two articles) is incorrect; it should be '我们需要对照这两篇文章'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 对照

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Component Characters

duìright
HSK 15 strokes
View full entry
zhàoto shine
HSK 313 strokes
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Write 对照

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

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Grammar Patterns of 对照

对照 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

黑发白肤形成鲜明的____.

Black hair is a sharp contrast to the white skin.

Example Sentences for 对照 (3)

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1
黑发白肤形成鲜明的对照.

hēi fā bái fū xíng chéng xiān míng de duì zhào.

Black hair is a sharp contrast to the white skin.
2
对照相来说天太暗了.

duì zhào xiāng lái shuō tiān tài àn le.

It's getting too dark to take photographs.
3
对照组: 除外观察组学生,随机在4届学生中以班为单位整群抽样218名学生.

duì zhào zǔ: : chú wài guān chá zǔ xué, shēng , suí4 jī zài 4 jiè xué shēng zhōng yǐ bān wéi dān wèi zhěng218 qún chōu yàng.

Contrast group: Other 218 undergraduates were adopted in cluster sampling, taking class as unit.

Cultural Notes for 对照

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese education, the practice of 对照 is integral to critical thinking, often seen in literature and research where texts are analyzed side by side for deeper insight.

Frequently Asked Questions about 对照

You can say '我们需要对照这两篇文章的观点' (We need to compare the viewpoints of these two articles).