錶 meaning and stroke order
To show, to express, to display; outside, appearance; a watch
How to write 錶, stroke by stroke
16 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 錶
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- watch (timepiece)
- meter; gauge
How 錶 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
釒 gives the meaning and 表 hints at the sound.
Radical: 釒 (gold), shared by 135 characters on this site.
How to remember 錶
錶 combines the metal radical 釒 with 表 (biǎo), which gives the sound. Picture a metal object that shows (表) you the time on its face: a watch.
錶 is the traditional character used specifically for timepieces and gauges, as in 手錶 (shǒubiǎo) wristwatch and 鐘錶 (zhōngbiǎo) clocks and watches. In simplified Chinese it has been merged into 表, so mainland texts write 手表. Example: 我的錶慢了五分鐘。(Wǒ de biǎo màn le wǔ fēnzhōng.) My watch is five minutes slow.
Common mistake: Learners often write 錶 for the other meanings of 表, such as 表示 (biǎoshì) to express or 表格 (biǎogé) form. In traditional Chinese those words still use plain 表. Only the watch or meter sense takes the metal radical.
Common words with 錶
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 手錶 | shǒubiǎo | wristwatch | HSK 2 |
| 鐘錶 | zhōngbiǎo | clock | |
| 懷錶 | huáibiǎo | pocket watch |
Questions about 錶
How many strokes are in 錶?
錶 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 錶 mean?
錶 (biǎo) means to show, to express, to display; outside, appearance; a watch. A common word with it is 手表 (shǒubiǎo), meaning "wristwatch".
How do you pronounce 錶?
錶 is pronounced biǎo, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 錶?
The radical of 錶 is 釒, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 錶 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 錶?
錶 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 表, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 錶 used in mainland China?
Not in standard simplified writing. There, 表 covers both 'to show' and 'watch', so you will see 手表 rather than 手錶. You will meet 錶 in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other traditional-character texts.
What is the difference between 錶 and 鐘 (zhōng)?
錶 usually means a small timepiece you carry or wear, like a wristwatch or pocket watch. 鐘 is a larger clock that hangs on a wall or sits on a table. Together, 鐘錶 means timepieces in general.