Definitions

gǎo (verb) to do; to handle; to take care of
gǎo (verb) to set up; to establish
gǎo (verb) to get hold of; to obtain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

This versatile verb means to do, make, manage, or set up. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left side is the hand radical 扌 (shǒu), indicating an action requiring manual effort, while the right side is the phonetic component 高 (gāo), meaning high. Originally a regional term from southern China, it entered mainstream vocabulary as a colloquial, flexible word for nearly any physical or organizational activity, often replacing more formal verbs in everyday speech.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在卫生。

Tā zài gǎo wèishēng.

He is cleaning.

我们了一个派对。

Wǒmen gǎo le yī gè pàiduì.

We threw a party.

请你清楚情况。

Qǐng nǐ gǎo qīngchu qíngkuàng.

Please understand the situation clearly.

这件事得很麻烦。

Zhè jiàn shì gǎo de hěn máfan.

This matter has been made very troublesome.

他们正在一个新项目。

Tāmen zhèngzài gǎo yī gè xīn xiàngmù.

They are working on a new project.

科研需要耐心和毅力。

Gǎo kēyán xūyào nàixīn hé yìlì.

Doing scientific research requires patience and perseverance.

错了会议的时间。

Tā gǎo cuò le huìyì de shíjiān.

He got the meeting time wrong.

这个问题很难定。

Zhè gè wèntí hěn nán gǎo dìng.

This problem is hard to solve.