Definitions

qiào (noun) hole; opening; orifice
qiào (noun) key point; crucial aspect

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "窍", traditionally written as "竅", is structured with the radical "穴" representing a hole or cavity, combined initially with the phonetic component "敫" which was later simplified to "巧", an element that also conveys a sense of skill or ingenuity. Its earliest meanings were concrete, referring specifically to physical openings such as the orifices of the body, but over time its application shifted towards abstract notions, evolving to denote the essential or pivotal point of a subject, as seen in compounds like "诀窍" where it captures the idea of a key method or insightful knack. This transition from literal aperture to metaphorical crux illustrates the character's semantic expansion within the linguistic landscape.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

掌握这个小门很容易。

Zhǎngwò zhège xiǎo qiàomén hěn róngyì.

Mastering this little trick is very easy.

他做事总是不得

Tā zuòshì zǒngshì bù dé qiào.

He never seems to get the hang of doing things.

做菜的火候是个诀

Zuòcài de huǒhòu shì gè juéqiào.

Controlling the heat is a key trick in cooking.

我还没摸到学习这门语言的

Wǒ hái méi mō dào xuéxí zhè mén yǔyán de qiào.

I haven't yet found the knack for learning this language.

辣味呛得他七生烟。

Là wèi qiàng dé tā qīqiào shēng yān.

The spiciness choked him, making his "seven apertures" feel like they were smoking.

经过老师点拨,他忽然开了

Jīngguò lǎoshī diǎnbō, tā hūrán kāile qiào.

After the teacher's guidance, he suddenly had an epiphany.

这件事的要在于耐心沟通。

Zhè jiàn shì de qiàoyào zàiyú nàixīn gōutōng.

The key to this matter lies in patient communication.

教育的目的之一是启发心智,开其

Jiàoyù de mùdì zhī yī shì qǐfā xīnzhì, kāi qí qiào.

One of the purposes of education is to inspire the mind and open its faculties.