to jump over, to leap over; to overtake, to surpass
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 走, rank #931, Hard
chāo(chao1) T1
1to exceed
2to overtake
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March 24, 2026
超chāo(chao1)
超 (chāo) means to exceed or surpass something, often referring to going beyond limits or expectations. It can be used in various contexts, such as surpassing a score, overtaking a vehicle, or transcending conventional boundaries.
Strokes12Radical走Frequency#931DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture, '超' is often used in branding and marketing to convey superiority, such as in terms like '超值' (chāozhí), meaning 'super value'. This reflects a cultural emphasis on excellence and high performance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a superhero (超人, chāorén) leaping over mountains to symbolize '超' (chāo) meaning to surpass or jump over. The character contains the radical for 'jump' (跳), which visually connects with the idea of leaping beyond limits.
Meanings of 超
chāo(chao1)
1to exceed
2to overtake
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 超
超Simplified
12Strokes
走Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#931Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 超
Podcast: 超
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AI Study Notes for 超
Quick Contrast
超 (chāo) vs 超越 (chāoyuè) — use 超 (chāo) for a more immediate sense of surpassing, while 超越 (chāoyuè) often implies a deeper or more philosophical transcending.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a superhero (超人, chāorén) leaping over mountains to symbolize '超' (chāo) meaning to surpass or jump over. The character contains the radical for 'jump' (跳), which visually connects with the idea of leaping beyond limits.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 超 with similar words like 超过 (chāoguò), which specifically means 'to exceed'. This term is more commonly used in informal contexts and fits well with expressions of comparison or competition.
HSK Study Tips
While 超 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other HSK words like 高 (gāo, high) and 快 (kuài, fast) to express exceeding in quality or speed. Focus on using it in sentences that compare two subjects.
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture, '超' is often used in branding and marketing to convey superiority, such as in terms like '超值' (chāozhí), meaning 'super value'. This reflects a cultural emphasis on excellence and high performance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 超 with other similar characters like 越 (yuè, to exceed) or 过 (guò, to pass). For example, saying 超过过 (chāoguò guò) is incorrect; it should simply be 超过 (chāoguò).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 超
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Grammar Patterns of 超
超 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 9 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.
Conrad Black gave an excellent party that surpassed expectations.
6
一项宪法修正案使得任何总统的任职不得超过两届。
yī xiàng xiàn fǎ xiū zhèng àn shǐ dé rèn hé zǒng tǒng de rèn zhí bù dé chāo guò liǎng jiè。
A constitutional amendment precludes any president from serving more than two terms.
7
他眼睛直视前方，加速超过了前面一辆慢吞吞行进的大卡车。
tā yǎn jīng zhí shì qián fāng， ， jiā sù chāo guò le qián miàn yī liàng màn tūn tūn háng jìn de dà kǎ。
He looked straight ahead and overtook a lumbering lorry.
8
人们开始觉得他超人一等。
rén mén kāi shǐ jué dé tā chāo rén yī děng。
People were beginning to attribute superhuman qualities to him.
9
他震惊地发现花费至少超了10亿美元。
tā zhèn jīng dì fā xiàn huā fèi zhì shǎo chāo le10 10 yì měi。
He was stunned to discover cost overruns of at least $1 billion.
10
但在其他商店纷纷关门倒闭之时，大型超市的强劲扩张势头却依旧不减。
dàn zài qí tā shāng diàn fēn fēn guān mén dǎo bì zhī shí， ， dà xíng chāo shì de qiáng jìn kuò zhāng shì tóu què yī jiù bù。
But as other shops fold, the march of the superstores continues.
Cultural Notes for 超
💡Did you know?
The character 超 (chāo) has roots in the idea of running or moving beyond limits. In modern usage, it often appears in phrases related to speed and excellence, like '超市' (supermarket) which literally means 'super market' implying a store that exceeds the regular offerings.
🏮Cultural insight
In modern Chinese culture, '超' is often used in branding and marketing to convey superiority, such as in terms like '超值' (chāozhí), meaning 'super value'. This reflects a cultural emphasis on excellence and high performance.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western contexts, 'to exceed' may carry a more formal connotation, whereas in Chinese, 超 is often used in everyday conversation and informal settings, reflecting a more casual approach to comparisons.
Word Family of 超
Words Containing This Character20
超chāoto exceed
超过chāoguòto surpass超過
超级chāojísuper-超級
超越chāoyuèto surpass
超人superhuman
超出chāochūto exceed
超市chāoshìsupermarket
超声ultrasonic超聲
超标chāobiāoexcessive超標
超速chāosùto speed
超额above quota超額
高超gāochāoexcellent
超模supermodel
超度to surpass
超前chāoqiánadvanced
超载to overload超載
超声波ultrasound (scan)超聲波
超重overweight (baggage, freight)
超凡out of the ordinary
超音速supersonic
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 超 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 超
Some synonyms for 超 include 超越 (chāoyuè), which means 'to surpass', and 超过 (chāoguò), meaning 'to go beyond'. These terms are often used interchangeably, though context may dictate the best choice.
Yes, 超 is commonly used in everyday conversation in Chinese. It can describe anything from achieving goals to expressing enthusiasm, such as saying something is '超好' (chāo hǎo), meaning 'super good'. It's a versatile term that fits various contexts.
超 (chāo) means 'to exceed', 'to overtake', or 'to surpass' in Chinese. It can also imply transcending limits or crossing boundaries. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as in sports or competition.
You can use 超 in a sentence to indicate surpassing something. For example, you might say: '他超越了所有的对手' (Tā chāoyuè le suǒyǒu de duìshǒu), meaning 'He surpassed all his opponents.' It can also be used in more general contexts, such as '这本书超好' (Zhè běn shū chāo hǎo), meaning 'This book is excellent.'
Yes, you can use 超 to describe emotions when you want to express that they exceed normal levels, such as 超开心 (chāo kāixīn) meaning 'super happy'.
No, 超 can be used for both physical and abstract concepts, such as skills, experiences, or numerical values.
