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March 24, 2026
敲qiāo(qiao1)
The character 敲 (qiāo) primarily means 'to hit,' 'to strike,' or 'to knock.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical tapping or striking, such as knocking on a door or hitting an object. It can also convey the idea of overcharging someone in a financial context, indicating a negative connotation when used in that way.
Strokes14Radical攴Frequency#2528DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, knocking on a door is often seen as a polite way to announce one's arrival, and it can be an important part of social etiquette. The concept of overcharging or 'ripping off' someone is also relevant in discussions around consumer rights in modern China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person knocking on a door with a hammer, which visually represents the character 敲 (qiāo). The left side (扌) suggests 'hand,' while the right side (喬) can be remembered as a 'knock' sound. Together, they evoke the action of striking or tapping.
Meanings of 敲
qiāo(qiao1)
1to hit
2to strike
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 敲
敲Simplified
14Strokes
攴Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2528Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 敲
Podcast: 敲
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AI Study Notes for 敲
Quick Contrast
敲 (qiāo) vs 打 (dǎ): Use 敲 for knocking or tapping, especially on surfaces, while 打 is broader, encompassing hitting and striking in various contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person knocking on a door with a hammer, which visually represents the character 敲 (qiāo). The left side (扌) suggests 'hand,' while the right side (喬) can be remembered as a 'knock' sound. Together, they evoke the action of striking or tapping.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 敲 (qiāo) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly polite or soft situations where a gentler term may be more appropriate. Common collocations include 敲门 (knock on the door) and 敲打 (hit or strike).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 敲 connects well with other verbs related to actions, such as 打 (dǎ - to hit) and 拍 (pāi - to clap or pat). Focus on practicing its usage in various contexts, especially in dialogues involving physical actions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, knocking on a door is often seen as a polite way to announce one's arrival, and it can be an important part of social etiquette. The concept of overcharging or 'ripping off' someone is also relevant in discussions around consumer rights in modern China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敲 (qiāo) with 打 (dǎ), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我打门' (wǒ dǎmén - I hit the door) is incorrect; it should be '我敲门' (wǒ qiāomén).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敲
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Grammar Patterns of 敲
敲 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 8 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.
Many manufacturers have policies to protect themselves against blackmailers.
Cultural Notes for 敲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, knocking on a door is often seen as a polite way to announce one's arrival, and it can be an important part of social etiquette. The concept of overcharging or 'ripping off' someone is also relevant in discussions around consumer rights in modern China.
Word Family of 敲
Words Containing This Character18
敲qiāoto hit
敲门qiāoménto knock on a door敲門
敲诈qiāozhàto rip off敲詐
敲响to sound a bell敲響
敲定to determine
敲打to beat sb
敲击to pound敲擊
敲诈勒索extortion and blackmail (idiom)敲詐勒索
推敲tuīqiāoto think over
敲门砖to use sb as a stepping stone to fortune敲門磚
旁敲侧击to make insinuations旁敲側擊
敲竹杠extortion by taking advantage of sb's weakness敲竹槓
敲敲打打to make a continual banging sound
敲山震虎a deliberate show of strength as a warning
零敲碎打to do things in bits and pieces (idiom); piecemeal work
敲边鼓qiāobiāngǔto back sb up敲邊鼓
零打碎敲to do things in bits and pieces (idiom); piecemeal work
敲丧钟a knell敲喪鐘
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 敲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敲
Common phrases with 敲 include '敲打' (qiāo dǎ), which means 'to hit or strike,' and '敲响' (qiāo xiǎng), meaning 'to ring or to knock.' These phrases can be used in various contexts, from physical actions to metaphorical meanings.
Yes, 敲 can be part of idiomatic expressions such as '敲竹杠' (qiāo zhú gàng), which means 'to rip someone off.' This expression highlights the use of 敲 in a negative context, showing how the word can convey different meanings based on usage.
敲 (qiāo) means 'to hit,' 'to strike,' 'to tap,' or 'to knock' in Chinese. It can refer to physically hitting something or can be used in contexts like knocking on a door. Additionally, it can imply a sense of cheating or ripping someone off in some colloquial uses.
You can use 敲 (qiāo) in sentences like '敲门' (qiāo mén), which means 'to knock on the door.' Another example is '他在敲桌子' (tā zài qiāo zhuōzi), meaning 'he is tapping the table.' It’s often used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Common phrases include 敲门 (qiāo mén - knock on the door) and 敲打 (qiāo dǎ - to strike or hit).
Yes, 敲 can be used metaphorically, such as in the phrase 敲诈 (qiāo zhà - to extort), which implies a form of financial 'knocking' or coercion.
The tone for 敲 is the first tone (qiāo), which is high and level.
