超

chāo

召 + 走

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

chāo (verb) to exceed; to surpass; to transcend

chāo (adjective) super-; ultra-

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 走 represents the meaning and 召 represents the sound.

Semantic: 走 Phonetic: 召

About

超 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic component 走 ('walk, run') and the phonetic component 召 (originally 'to summon'). Its basic meaning is jumping over or leaping across a physical obstacle, an action directly related to the movement expressed by 走. Over time, the sense expanded into abstract domains: exceeding limits, surpassing expectations, or going beyond normal bounds, and today it often simply means 'superior' or 'to surpass'.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书超级有趣。

Zhè běn shū chāojí yǒuqù.

This book is super interesting.

他的速度超快。

Tā de sùdù chāo kuài.

His speed is super fast.

我的体重超过了标准。

Wǒ de tǐzhòng chāoguòle biāozhǔn.

My weight exceeded the standard.

我们要超越过去的成绩。

Wǒmen yào chāoyuè guòqù de chéngjī.

We need to surpass past achievements.

这家超市的顾客超多。

Zhè jiā chāoshì de gùkè chāo duō.

This supermarket has super many customers.

他的想法超乎我的理解。

Tā de xiǎngfǎ chāohū wǒ de lǐjiě.

His ideas are beyond my understanding.

公司计划超额完成目标。

Gōngsī jìhuà chāo'é wánchéng mùbiāo.

The company plans to exceed the target.

在逆境中，他展现了超强的毅力。

Zài nìjìng zhōng, tā zhǎnxiànle chāo qiáng de yìlì.

In adversity, he demonstrated extraordinary perseverance.

Related Characters

Component: 召

Component: 走

超