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March 24, 2026
傲ào(ao4)
The character 傲 (ào) primarily means 'proud' or 'arrogant,' often carrying a negative connotation. It is commonly used to describe someone who is overly self-important or haughty, and can also imply defiance or unyielding attitude. In various contexts, it can reflect both personal pride and disdain for others.
Strokes12Radical亻Frequency#8457DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being proud or arrogant can lead to social ostracism, as humility is often valued. The character 傲 reflects the societal expectation to remain modest and respectful, particularly in hierarchical relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a peacock, which symbolizes pride, strutting confidently with its feathers fanned out. The top of the character 傲 resembles the proud peacock's head, while the bottom can remind you of its strong, defiant stance. Together, they evoke the sound 'ào' as you picture the peacock's haughty demeanor.
Meanings of 傲
ào(ao4)
1proud
2arrogant
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About 傲
傲Simplified
12Strokes
亻Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8457Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 傲
Podcast: 傲
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AI Study Notes for 傲
Quick Contrast
傲 (proud/arrogant) vs 自豪 (zìháo, proud) — use 傲 when implying a negative connotation of arrogance, while 自豪 emphasizes a positive sense of pride.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a peacock, which symbolizes pride, strutting confidently with its feathers fanned out. The top of the character 傲 resembles the proud peacock's head, while the bottom can remind you of its strong, defiant stance. Together, they evoke the sound 'ào' as you picture the peacock's haughty demeanor.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 傲 with 自豪 (zìháo), which means 'proud' in a positive sense. 傲 is more negative and should be used carefully to avoid offending someone. It is typically used in informal contexts when criticizing someone's attitude or behavior.
HSK Study Tips
Although 傲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 自豪 (zìháo) and 骄傲 (jiāo'ào), which also express pride but with different nuances. Focus on recognizing how 傲 can convey a more negative attitude compared to related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being proud or arrogant can lead to social ostracism, as humility is often valued. The character 傲 reflects the societal expectation to remain modest and respectful, particularly in hierarchical relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 傲 in positive contexts, thinking it means pride in a good way. For instance, saying '他对自己的成就感到傲' ('He feels proud of his achievements') is incorrect; instead, use '他对自己的成就感到自豪'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 傲
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Grammar Patterns of 傲
傲 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 6 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.
While both '傲' and '骄' can translate to 'proud,' '傲' often carries a negative connotation of arrogance.
1
他太傲了，没人愿意和他交朋友。
He is too arrogant; no one wants to be his friend.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他太____了，没人愿意和他交朋友。
He is too arrogant; no one wants to be his friend.
Example Sentences for 傲 (10)
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1
他从未表现出他前任的那种近乎傲慢的自信。
tā cóng wèi biǎo xiàn chū tā qián rèn de nà zhǒng jìn hū ào màn de zì xìn。
He has never exhibited the self-confidence, bordering on arrogance, of his predecessor.
2
她能看出她的两个儿子充满了骄傲。
tā néng kàn chū tā de liǎng gè ér zǐ chōng mǎn le jiāo ào。
She could see her two sons swell with pride.
3
潜意识里的嫉妒常表现为这种傲慢自大。
qián yì shí lǐ de jí dù cháng biǎo xiàn wéi zhè zhǒng ào màn zì dà。
Unconscious envy manifests itself very often as this kind of arrogance.
4
与众不同之处在于他的骄傲自大和满嘴脏话。
yǔ zhòng bù tóng zhī chǔ zài yú tā de jiāo ào zì dà hé mǎn zuǐ zāng huà。
The things that stuck out were his cockiness and his four-letter words.
5
她傲慢地招招手，把我叫出房间。
tā ào màn dì zhāo zhāo shǒu， ， bǎ wǒ jiào chū fáng。
Imperiously she beckoned me out of the room.
6
我真为你骄傲，亲爱的！
wǒ zhēn wéi nǐ jiāo ào， ， qīn ài！
I am so proud of you, my sweet!
7
“你骗不了我，”雪莉傲慢地说。
“ “ nǐ piàn bù le，” wǒ ，” xuě lì ào màn。
"You can't fool me," Shirley said archly.
8
红梅傲雪凌霜开.
hóng méi ào xuě líng shuāng kāi.
Braving snow and frost , the plum trees blossomed defiantly.
9
但晴 自信 傲慢, 与大男人的 权频 生磨擦.
dàn qíng zì xìn, ào màn , yǔ dà nán rén de quán.
Arrogant self - confidence but clear, with a man's right to frequent friction "
10
她的问候中带着一丝傲慢。
tā de wèn hòu zhōng dài zháo yī sī ào màn。
There was a tinge of condescension in her greeting.
Cultural Notes for 傲
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, being '傲' (proud or arrogant) is often viewed negatively. Humility is greatly valued, and people are encouraged to be modest and down-to-earth.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being proud or arrogant can lead to social ostracism, as humility is often valued. The character 傲 reflects the societal expectation to remain modest and respectful, particularly in hierarchical relationships.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese proverb is '傲不可长', meaning 'pride should not last long'. This reflects the cultural belief that arrogance can lead to downfall.
Word Family of 傲
Words Containing This Character15
骄傲jiāo’àopride驕傲
傲àoproud
傲慢àomànarrogant
高傲gāo’àoarrogant
自傲arrogance
傲气haughtiness傲氣
傲然loftily
傲视to turn up one's nose傲視
狂傲domineering
心高气傲proud and arrogant心高氣傲
傲骨lofty and unyielding character
倨傲arrogant
居功自傲satisfied with one's accomplishment and arrogant as a result (idiom); resting on one's laurels and despising others
恃才傲物to be inordinately proud of one's ability
傲睨to look down upon
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 骄傲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 傲
Both 傲 (ào) and 骄 (jiāo) can mean proud or arrogant, but 傲 often emphasizes a sense of defiance or disdain, while 骄 tends to indicate a sense of pride that may not necessarily be negative. Understanding the context is key to using them correctly.
While 傲 (ào) typically has a negative connotation of arrogance, it can be used positively in certain contexts, such as expressing pride in one’s achievements. However, it's crucial to consider the tone and context to avoid misunderstandings.
傲 (ào) means proud or arrogant. It can also convey the idea of being unyielding or defiant. The character is often used to describe someone who has a strong sense of self-worth or superiority.
You can use 傲 (ào) to describe someone’s attitude or behavior, such as in the sentence '他非常傲慢' (tā fēicháng àomàn), which means 'He is very arrogant.' It’s important to use it carefully, as it can carry a negative connotation.
Both words convey pride, but 傲 is more negative, suggesting arrogance, while 骄傲 (jiāo'ào) can be used positively.
It is generally considered informal and should be used with caution in formal contexts, as it may offend.
The correct pronunciation is 'ào', with a falling tone.
