绕 meaning and stroke order
To wind; to coil (thread); to rotate around
How to write 绕, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 9
Meaning of 绕
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 绕 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
纟 gives the meaning and 尧 hints at the sound.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 绕
绕 (rào) pairs the thread radical 纟 with 尧 (yáo), which hints at the sound. Picture a thread winding round and round something, and you have the meaning of wrapping or going around.
绕 is used for physically winding something, for moving around an object or obstacle, and figuratively for talking in circles. It often appears in compounds like 绕道 (ràodào) and 围绕 (wéirào). 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 it.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 绕 with 浇 (jiāo, to pour water) or 烧 (shāo, to burn), which share the same 尧 part. Check the left side: only the thread radical 纟 gives the meaning of winding. Also keep the fourth tone rào, not ráo.
Common words with 绕
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 围绕 | wéirào | to revolve around; to center on (an issue) | HSK 5 |
| 环绕 | huánrào | to surround; to circle | HSK 7-9 |
| 绕行 | ràoxíng | to take a circular (or circuitous) route; to do a circuit | HSK 7-9 |
| 绕过 | ràoguò | to detour; to bypass | |
| 绕道 | ràodào | to go by a roundabout route; to take a detour | |
| 萦绕 | yíngrào | to linger on; to hover | |
| 缠绕 | chánrào | twisting; to twine | |
| 绕圈子 | ràoquānzi | to go around in circles; to make a detour |
绕 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 绕
How many strokes are in 绕?
绕 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 绕 mean?
绕 (rào) means to wind; to coil (thread); to rotate around. A common word with it is 围绕 (wéirào), meaning "to revolve around; to center on (an issue)".
How do you pronounce 绕?
绕 is pronounced rào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 绕?
The radical of 绕 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 绕 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 绕?
The traditional form of 绕 is 繞 and 遶. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 绕 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 绕 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 绕 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 别绕圈子 mean?
别绕圈子 (bié rào quānzi) means "stop beating around the bush." People say it when someone avoids getting to the point. 绕圈子 can also literally mean walking in circles.
Can 绕 describe something confusing, like a tongue twister?
Yes. 绕口令 (ràokǒulìng) means tongue twister. In casual speech, 太绕了 (tài rào le) means something is too convoluted or hard to follow.