瞭 meaning and stroke order
Bright; clear-sighted; to understand
How to write 瞭, stroke by stroke
17 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 瞭
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to watch from a height or distance
How 瞭 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Eye.
目 gives the meaning and 尞 hints at the sound.
Radical: 目 (eye), shared by 100 characters on this site.
How to remember 瞭
瞭 has the eye 目 on the left, which tells you it is about seeing. The right side 尞 (liáo) gives the sound, so picture an eye seeing something clearly enough to understand it.
In simplified Chinese, the liǎo meaning "to understand" is normally written 了, as in 了解 (liǎojiě) and 简单明了 (jiǎndān míngliǎo). Today 瞭 mostly appears with the reading liào, meaning to look from a height or far away, as in 瞭望 (liàowàng). Example: 士兵在塔上瞭望。(Shìbīng zài tǎ shàng liàowàng.) The soldier keeps watch from the tower.
Common mistake: Learners often write 瞭解 in simplified Chinese, but the standard simplified form is 了解. Keep 瞭 for 瞭望 (liàowàng), and say it with the fourth tone there.
Common words with 瞭
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 簡單明瞭 | jiǎndānmíngliǎo | clear and simple; in simple terms |
Questions about 瞭
How many strokes are in 瞭?
瞭 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 瞭 mean?
瞭 (liǎo) means bright; clear-sighted; to understand. A common word with it is 简单明了 (jiǎndānmíngliǎo), meaning "clear and simple; in simple terms".
How do you pronounce 瞭?
瞭 is pronounced liǎo, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 瞭?
The radical of 瞭 is 目, which carries the idea of "eye". Dictionaries list 瞭 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 瞭?
瞭 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 了, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 瞭 and 了?
In simplified Chinese, 了 covers the sense of understanding (liǎo), so you write 明了 and 了解. 瞭 is kept for watching from a distance, read liào, as in 瞭望.
What does 瞭望台 mean?
瞭望台 (liàowàngtái) is a lookout tower or observation platform. It is a high place where people stand to watch the area around them.