交

jiāo

亠 + 父

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

jiāo (verb) to hand over; to deliver; to pay

jiāo (verb) to intersect; to cross

jiāo (verb) to make friends; to associate with

Etymology

Pictograph of a person standing with crossed legs, conveying the meaning "to cross".

About

交 originated as a pictograph of a person standing with crossed legs, directly conveying the meaning 'to cross.' This image of intersecting limbs gave rise to senses of physical crossing, intersection, and overlap. From these concrete uses, the character expanded into abstract realms: social interaction, the exchange of goods or ideas, and the forming of personal relationships. In modern Chinese, 交 is a versatile verb meaning to hand over, deliver, submit documents, or engage in mutual communication, each sense reflecting an enduring theme of connection and reciprocity.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我交了一个新朋友。

Wǒ jiāo le yī gè xīn péngyǒu.

I made a new friend.

他交给老师作业。

Tā jiāo gěi lǎoshī zuòyè.

He handed the homework to the teacher.

我们交换了礼物。

Wǒmen jiāohuàn le lǐwù.

We exchanged gifts.

交通规则很重要。

Jiāotōng guīzé hěn zhòngyào.

Traffic rules are very important.

国际交流促进文化发展。

Guójì jiāoliú cùjìn wénhuà fāzhǎn.

International exchange promotes cultural development.

请交付这个月的报告。

Qǐng jiāofù zhège yuè de bàogào.

Please deliver this month's report.

他们正在交涉合同细节。

Tāmen zhèngzài jiāoshè hétóng xìjié.

They are negotiating the details of the contract.

在市场经济中，供求关系相互交织。

Zài shìchǎng jīngjì zhōng, gōngqiú guānxi xiānghù jiāozhī.

In a market economy, supply and demand relationships are interwoven.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亠

Component: 父

交