吵
noisy; to quarrel; to disturb
chǎo
What does 吵 mean?
吵 (chǎo) is a word that works as both an adjective meaning 'noisy / loud' and a verb meaning 'to quarrel' or 'to disturb with noise.' As an adjective it describes an environment full of unpleasant sound: 这里太吵 ('it's too noisy here'). As a verb it means to bicker or argue loudly (吵架 = to have a quarrel) or to bother someone with noise (别吵我 = 'don't disturb me').
The mouth radical 口 signals it is about sound coming from mouths. Two differences from English: 吵 as an adjective needs no 'is' verb — 太吵了 stands alone as 'too noisy'; and the same single character covers both 'noise' and 'quarrelling,' which English splits into separate words. When it means quarrel, it usually takes 架 (吵架) or an object; when it means noisy, it stays adjectival.
Character breakdown
noisy; to quarrel; to disturb by noise
Memory hook: 口 (mouth) + 少 — too many mouths making a racket, so it's noisy.
Example sentences
外面太吵了，我睡不着。
Wàimiàn tài chǎo le, wǒ shuì bu zháo.
It's too noisy outside, I can't fall asleep.
spoken
他们又吵架了。
Tāmen yòu chǎojià le.
They're quarrelling again.
spoken
小声一点，别吵到别人。
Xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn, bié chǎo dào biérén.
Keep it down, don't disturb others.
spoken
这个房间很吵，我们换一个吧。
Zhège fángjiān hěn chǎo, wǒmen huàn yí ge ba.
This room is noisy, let's switch to another one.
spoken
Common phrases with 吵
Synonyms
闹 also means noisy/rowdy but implies commotion or fuss (热闹 lively, 吵闹 clamorous). 吵 leans toward unpleasant, disturbing noise or verbal quarrelling. 闹 can be festive; 吵 rarely is.
喧闹 is a more written, descriptive word for a boisterous, clamorous scene. 吵 is the plain spoken word you use in daily complaints about noise.
Don't confuse 吵 with
FAQ
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