箫 meaning and stroke order
Bamboo flute
How to write 箫, stroke by stroke
14 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 箫
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- xiao, a vertical bamboo flute
How 箫 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Bamboo.
⺮ gives the meaning and 肃 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo), shared by 149 characters on this site.
How to remember 箫
The bamboo top ⺮ tells you it is made of bamboo, and 肃 (sù) below gives a hint of the sound. Picture a calm, solemn (肃) player holding a long bamboo tube upright.
箫 (xiāo) names the traditional vertical bamboo flute, played by blowing across a notch at the top end. It often appears in the verb phrase 吹箫 (chuīxiāo), to play the xiao. Example: 他会吹箫。(Tā huì chuīxiāo.) He can play the xiao.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 箫 (xiāo) with 笛 (dí). 笛子 (dízi) is the side-blown flute, while 箫 is held vertically. Also note that the phonetic 肃 is read sù, so do not read 箫 as sù.
Common words with 箫
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 吹箫 | chuīxiāo | to play the xiao 簫|箫[xiao1], a vertical bamboo flute; (literary) to beg on the streets (ab |
Questions about 箫
How many strokes are in 箫?
箫 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 箫 mean?
箫 (xiāo) means bamboo flute. A common word with it is 吹箫 (chuīxiāo), meaning "to play the xiao 簫|箫[xiao1], a vertical bamboo flute; (literary) to beg on the streets (ab".
How do you pronounce 箫?
箫 is pronounced xiāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 箫?
The radical of 箫 is ⺮, which carries the idea of "bamboo". Dictionaries list 箫 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 箫?
The traditional form of 箫 is 簫. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 箫 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Does 吹箫 have any other meaning besides playing the flute?
Yes. In literary Chinese, 吹箫 can also mean to beg on the streets. In everyday speech it usually just means playing the xiao.
Is 箫 the same as the bamboo flute 笛子?
No. Both are bamboo flutes, but 箫 is played vertically and 笛子 is played sideways. They are different instruments with different names.