聊

liáo

卯 + 耳

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

liáo (verb) to chat

liáo (adverb) slightly; just

liáo (verb) to depend upon

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 卯 represents the sound.

Semantic: 耳 Phonetic: 卯

About

The character 聊 combines the ear radical 耳 (meaning) on the left with the phonetic 卯 (sound) on the right, forming a phono-semantic compound. The earliest recorded meaning, a ringing in the ears, draws directly on the ear component. This concrete sensation was later replaced by the notion of casual conversation or chatting, which is now the character's main sense. Beyond that, 聊 acts as an adverb meaning 'merely', 'slightly', or 'just to make do' in situations without better alternatives.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们来聊聊这件事。

Wǒmen lái liáo liao zhè jiàn shì.

Let's talk about this matter.

他喜欢和朋友聊天。

Tā xǐhuān hé péngyou liáotiān.

He likes to chat with friends.

我们昨晚聊了很久。

Wǒmen zuó wǎn liáo le hěn jiǔ.

We talked for a long time last night.

她正在网上聊得开心。

Tā zhèngzài wǎngshàng liáo de kāixīn.

She is chatting happily online.

无聊的时候我会看看书。

Wúliáo de shíhou wǒ huì kàn kan shū.

When I'm bored, I read books.

他们聊到了未来的计划。

Tāmen liáo dào le wèilái de jìhuà.

They talked about future plans.

这次谈话聊出了新的思路。

Zhè cì tánhuà liáo chū le xīn de sīlù.

This conversation brought forth new ideas.

聊起童年往事，他感慨万分。

Liáo qǐ tóngnián wǎngshì, tā gǎnkǎi wànfēn.

Speaking of childhood memories, he is filled with emotion.

Related Characters

Component: 卯

Component: 耳

聊