超 meaning and stroke order
To exceed; to overtake; to surpass
How to write 超, stroke by stroke
12 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 超
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to exceed
- to overtake
- to surpass
- to transcend
- to pass
- to cross
How 超 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Run.
走 gives the meaning and 召 hints at the sound.
Radical: 走 (to walk), shared by 22 characters on this site.
How to remember 超
超 is built from 走 (zǒu, to walk or run) wrapping around 召 (zhào). Picture someone running so fast that they pass whoever was called (召) ahead of them, which is the idea of overtaking. 召 also hints at the sound, since zhào and chāo rhyme.
超 usually appears in words about going past a limit or another person, like 超过 (chāoguò) and 超速 (chāosù). In casual speech it also works as an adverb meaning "super" or "really". Example: 这个电影超好看。(Zhège diànyǐng chāo hǎokàn.) This movie is super good.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 召 on top or beside 走 instead of tucking it into the corner made by 走's long sweeping stroke. Some learners also confuse 超 with 起 (qǐ, to rise), which uses the same 走 frame with 己 inside.
Common words with 超
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 超过 | chāoguò | to surpass; to exceed | HSK 2 |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket (abbr. for 超級市場|超级市场[chao1 ji2 shi4 chang3]) | HSK 2 |
| 超级 | chāojí | super-; ultra- | HSK 3 |
| 超越 | chāoyuè | to surpass; to exceed; to transcend | HSK 5 |
| 超出 | chāochū | to exceed; to overstep | HSK 6 |
| 超速 | chāosù | to exceed the speed limit; to speed | HSK 7-9 |
| 高超 | gāochāo | excellent; superlative | HSK 7-9 |
| 超前 | chāoqián | to be ahead of one's time; to surpass or outdo one's predecessors | HSK 7-9 |
| 超车 | chāochē | to overtake (another car) | HSK 7-9 |
| 超标 | chāobiāo | to cross the limit; to be over the accepted norm | HSK 7-9 |
| 超人 | Chāorén | superhuman; exceptional | |
| 超能力 | chāonénglì | superpower; superhuman power | |
| 超自然 | chāozìrán | supernatural | |
| 超新星 | chāoxīnxīng | (astronomy) supernova; (fig.) breakout star |
超 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 超
How many strokes are in 超?
超 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 超 mean?
超 (chāo) means to exceed; to overtake; to surpass. A common word with it is 超过 (chāoguò), meaning "to surpass; to exceed".
How do you pronounce 超?
超 is pronounced chāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 超?
The radical of 超 is 走, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 超 under this radical.
Is 超 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 超 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 超过 and 超越?
超过 (chāoguò) is everyday and concrete, used for passing a car or going over a number. 超越 (chāoyuè) sounds more formal and often means surpassing in an abstract sense, like surpassing yourself or transcending limits.
Why does 超市 mean supermarket?
超市 (chāoshì) is a shortened form of 超级市场 (chāojí shìchǎng), literally "super market". Here 超级 is used as the prefix "super-", just like in English.