Definitions

jiāo (adjective) delicate; tender; frail
jiāo (adjective) pampered; spoiled

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "娇", derived from its traditional form "嬌", is structurally composed of the radical "女" meaning woman and the component "喬" which phonetically and semantically suggests loftiness or elegance, originally implying a woman of delicate and pampered nature associated with high social standing. Its early connotations of refined tenderness linked to status gradually softened over centuries, shifting focus toward universal attributes of charm, softness, and affectionate behavior. This evolution led to its modern application in describing a sweetly fragile or coquettish demeanor, often employed in terms of endearment, reflecting a semantic narrowing that emphasizes appealing gentleness over earlier social implications.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她有点气。

Tā yǒudiǎn jiāoqi.

She is a bit spoiled.

我的妹妹很小。

Wǒ de mèimei hěn jiāoxiǎo.

My younger sister is very delicate.

这些花朵很嫩。

Zhèxiē huāduǒ hěn jiāonèn.

These flowers are very tender.

春天里花儿艳。

Chūntiān lǐ huār jiāoyàn.

In spring, flowers are delicate and beautiful.

声地抱怨着。

Tā jiāoshēng de bàoyuàn zhe.

She complained in a delicate voice.

她的笑容十分媚。

Tā de xiàoróng shífēn jiāomèi.

Her smile is very charming.

虽然她小,但很勇敢。

Suīrán tā jiāoxiǎo, dàn hěn yǒnggǎn.

Although she is delicate, she is very brave.

那个气的女孩总是需要帮助。

Nàgè jiāoqi de nǚhái zǒngshì xūyào bāngzhù.

That spoiled girl always needs help.