赵

趙

zhào

㐅 + 走

Definitions

Zhào (noun) ancient Chinese state (476-220 BC)

zhào (verb) to surpass

Etymology

About

赵 (traditional form 趙) is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 走 (zǒu, 'walk/run') combined with the phonetic 肖 (xiào) in the simplified character and 兆 (zhào) in the traditional. Its original meaning was swift movement or hastening, but that sense became obsolete. Today, it is essentially a proper noun, the name of a Warring States period state and one of the most common Chinese surnames.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

赵先生来了。

Zhào xiānsheng lái le.

Mr. Zhao has come.

赵明是我的好朋友。

Zhào Míng shì wǒ de hǎo péngyou.

Zhao Ming is my good friend.

赵家住在北京。

Zhào jiā zhù zài Běijīng.

The Zhao family lives in Beijing.

赵老师教我们数学。

Zhào lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Zhao teaches us math.

赵女士在图书馆工作。

Zhào nǚshì zài túshūguǎn gōngzuò.

Ms. Zhao works in the library.

赵经理负责这个项目。

Zhào jīnglǐ fùzé zhège xiàngmù.

Manager Zhao is in charge of this project.

赵叔叔经常帮助我们学习。

Zhào shūshu jīngcháng bāngzhù wǒmen xuéxí.

Uncle Zhao often helps us with our studies.

赵爷爷的故事很有趣。

Zhào yéye de gùshì hěn yǒuqù.

Grandpa Zhao's stories are very interesting.

Related Characters

Component: 㐅

Component: 走

Example Words