桥

橋

qiáo

乔 + 木

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

qiáo (noun) bridge

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 乔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 橋.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 乔

About

桥 is a simplified Chinese character; its traditional form is 橋. It combines the wood radical 木 (meaning 'wood') with the phonetic 乔 (qiáo), which was simplified from 喬. The wood radical points to the timber construction of ancient Chinese bridges. The character's original meaning is a bridge, a wooden structure spanning a river or chasm, and it still carries that meaning today. Over time, it also acquired a metaphorical sense, referring to any connection or link, such as between people, ideas, or places. This dual usage makes 桥 a good example of how concrete objects can symbolize abstract relationships.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这座桥很长。

Zhè zuò qiáo hěn cháng.

This bridge is very long.

河上有一座石桥。

Hé shàng yǒu yī zuò shí qiáo.

There is a stone bridge over the river.

新建的大桥非常雄伟。

Xīn jiàn de dà qiáo fēicháng xióngwěi.

The newly built bridge is very magnificent.

我们约定在桥下见面。

Wǒmen yuēdìng zài qiáo xià jiànmiàn.

We arranged to meet under the bridge.

这座桥梁的设计很独特。

Zhè zuò qiáoliáng de shèjì hěn dútè.

The design of this bridge is very unique.

长江上的桥梁连接着两岸。

Cháng Jiāng shàng de qiáoliáng liánjiē zhe liǎng àn.

The bridges over the Yangtze River connect the two banks.

古代的工匠建造了这座坚固的桥。

Gǔdài de gōngjiàng jiànzào le zhè zuò jiāngù de qiáo.

Ancient craftsmen built this sturdy bridge.

这座跨海大桥极大地便利了交通。

Zhè zuò kuàhǎi dàqiáo jídà dì biànlì le jiāotōng.

This cross-sea bridge has greatly facilitated transportation.

Related Characters

Component: 乔

Component: 木

桥