吵

chǎo
口 + 少
HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

chǎo (verb) to quarrel; to argue
chǎo (adjective) noisy
chǎo (verb) to make noise; to disturb with noise

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 少 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 少

About

吵 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side is the mouth radical 口 (kǒu), signaling that the character relates to sound or speech. The right side is 少 (shǎo), which usually means 'few' or 'little' but here serves only to indicate the pronunciation. The original meaning is a clamor of human voices, i.e., loud, discordant noise. From this literal sense, it extended to the social act of arguing or quarreling. 吵 can be used as an adjective for a noisy, disruptive environment, or as a verb meaning to bicker with or disturb someone by making excessive noise.

Example Sentences Hide

这里太吵了。

Zhèlǐ tài chǎo le.

It's too noisy here.

孩子们在吵架。

Háizimen zài chǎojià.

The children are quarreling.

不要吵，我在学习。

Bù yào chǎo, wǒ zài xuéxí.

Don't make noise, I am studying.

你为什么这么吵？

Nǐ wèishénme zhème chǎo?

Why are you so noisy?

因为外面很吵，我睡不着。

Yīnwèi wàimiàn hěn chǎo, wǒ shuì bù zháo.

Because it's noisy outside, I can't sleep.

他们经常争吵这件事。

Tāmen jīngcháng zhēngchǎo zhè jiàn shì.

They often quarrel about this matter.

虽然市场很吵，但是东西很便宜。

Suīrán shìchǎng hěn chǎo, dànshì dōngxi hěn piányi.

Although the market is noisy, the things are very cheap.

如果你继续吵，我就告诉老师。

Rúguǒ nǐ jìxù chǎo, wǒ jiù gàosù lǎoshī.

If you continue to make noise, I will tell the teacher.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 少

省 沙 妙 劣 秒 抄 纱 炒 钞 砂 眇 杪 耖 紗

Example Words

吵架 吵醒 争吵 吵吵 吵吵嚷嚷 吵嘴 吵嚷 吵杂 吵闹 吵闹声 大吵大闹