繞 meaning and stroke order
To entwine, to wind around; to orbit, to revolve
How to write 繞, stroke by stroke
18 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 繞
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to wind
- to coil (thread)
- to rotate around
- to spiral
- to move around
- to go round (an obstacle)
How 繞 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning and 堯 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 繞
繞 (rào) is a pictophonetic character. The thread radical 糹 on the left shows its meaning, so picture thread winding around a spool. The right part 堯 (yáo) gives a hint of the sound.
繞 (rào) means to wind around something or to go around an obstacle instead of through it. It appears in many common words like 围绕 (wéirào) and 绕道 (ràodào). Example: 前面修路，我们绕过去吧。(Qiánmiàn xiū lù, wǒmen rào guòqù ba.) The road ahead is under repair, so let's go around.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 繞 (rào) with 燒 (shāo, to burn) or 曉 (xiǎo, dawn), because all three share 堯 on the right. Check the left side: thread 糹 means winding, fire 火 means burning, and sun 日 means dawn.
Common words with 繞
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 圍繞 | wéirào | to revolve around; to center on (an issue) | HSK 5 |
| 環繞 | huánrào | to surround; to circle | HSK 7-9 |
| 繞行 | ràoxíng | to take a circular (or circuitous) route; to do a circuit | HSK 7-9 |
| 繞過 | ràoguò | to detour; to bypass | |
| 繞道 | ràodào | to go by a roundabout route; to take a detour | |
| 縈繞 | yíngrào | to linger on; to hover | |
| 纏繞 | chánrào | twisting; to twine | |
| 繞圈子 | ràoquānzi | to go around in circles; to make a detour |
Questions about 繞
How many strokes are in 繞?
繞 is written with 18 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 繞 mean?
繞 (rào) means to entwine, to wind around; to orbit, to revolve. A common word with it is 围绕 (wéirào), meaning "to revolve around; to center on (an issue)".
How do you pronounce 繞?
繞 is pronounced rào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 繞?
The radical of 繞 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 繞 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 繞?
繞 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 绕, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 绕圈子 (ràoquānzi) mean when people talk?
Literally it means to go around in circles. In conversation it often means to beat around the bush. 别绕圈子了 (bié ràoquānzi le) means 'stop beating around the bush.'
What is the difference between 围绕 (wéirào) and 环绕 (huánrào)?
Both can mean to surround or circle. 围绕 is also used abstractly, as in 围绕这个问题 (wéirào zhège wèntí, centering on this issue). 环绕 is more often physical or descriptive, like mountains surrounding a lake.