考 meaning and stroke order
To check; to verify; to test
How to write 考, stroke by stroke
6 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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 考
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to check
- to verify
- to test
- to examine
- to take an exam
- to take an entrance exam for
How 考 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Old.
耂 gives the meaning and 丂 hints at the sound.
Radical: 耂 (old), shared by 3 characters on this site.
How to remember 考
考 is built from 耂, a form of 老 (lǎo, old), on top, with 丂 (kǎo) underneath giving the sound. Picture an old, experienced teacher standing over you to test what you know.
考 is most often used for taking exams, and it can take the school or test directly as its object, as in 考大学 (kǎo dàxué, to take the university entrance exam). It also appears in thinking words like 考虑 (kǎolǜ, to consider) and 参考 (cānkǎo, reference). Example: 我明天要考中文。 (Wǒ míngtiān yào kǎo Zhōngwén.) I have a Chinese test tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 考 with 老 (lǎo, old), since both share the top 耂. Look at the bottom: 考 ends with 丂, a hook-like shape, while 老 ends with 匕.
Common words with 考
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 考试 | kǎoshì | to take an exam; exam | HSK 1 |
| 考生 | kǎoshēng | exam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam | HSK 2 |
| 考验 | kǎoyàn | to test; to put to the test | HSK 3 |
| 考虑 | kǎolǜ | to think over; to consider | HSK 4 |
| 思考 | sīkǎo | to reflect on; to ponder over | HSK 4 |
| 参考 | cānkǎo | consultation; reference | HSK 4 |
| 考察 | kǎochá | to inspect; to observe and study | HSK 4 |
| 考核 | kǎohé | to examine; to check up on | HSK 5 |
| 高考 | gāokǎo | college entrance exam (especially as abbr. for 普通高等學校招生全國統一考試|普通高等学校招生全国统一考试[Pu3 tong1 Gao | HSK 6 |
| 报考 | bàokǎo | to enter oneself for an examination | HSK 6 |
| 补考 | bǔkǎo | to sit for a makeup exam; to resit an exam | HSK 6 |
| 考场 | kǎochǎng | exam room | HSK 6 |
| 考题 | kǎotí | exam question | HSK 6 |
| 考量 | kǎoliáng | to consider; to give serious consideration to sth | HSK 7-9 |
考 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 考
Learning 考 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 考
How many strokes are in 考?
考 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 考 mean?
考 (kǎo) means to check; to verify; to test. A common word with it is 考试 (kǎoshì), meaning "to take an exam; exam".
How do you pronounce 考?
考 is pronounced kǎo, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 考?
The radical of 考 is 耂, which carries the idea of "old". Dictionaries list 考 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 考?
The traditional form of 考 is 攷. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 考 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 考 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 考 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 考 and 考试?
考 is a verb meaning to take a test, and it is usually followed by a subject or school, as in 考数学 (kǎo shùxué). 考试 can be a noun (an exam) or a verb used on its own, as in 我在考试 (wǒ zài kǎoshì, I am taking an exam).
How do I say I passed or failed an exam using 考?
Add a result complement: 考上 (kǎoshàng) means to pass an entrance exam and get in, and 考得好 (kǎo de hǎo) means you did well. For failing, say 没考上 (méi kǎoshàng) or 考砸了 (kǎo zá le), a casual way to say the exam went badly.