How to Write 袄 (ǎo) — Meaning “Jacket or coat”

Picture a thick cotton-padded jacket (袄) shaped like the letter 'Y' in the middle, with the clothing radical on the left. The right part 夭 looks like a person with arms raised, as if putting on a warm coat. Imagine saying 'Ao!' when you put on your jacket.

Write the left radical 衤 first: dot, horizontal stroke, left-falling stroke, vertical stroke, then two short horizontal strokes. The right part 夭 must be slightly narrower than the left. A common mistake is making the right part too wide; keep the strokes compact so the overall character is balanced.

袄 means a jacket or coat, while 补 (bǔ) means 'to mend' or 'to patch' and 衩 (chà) refers to a slit or opening in clothing. Visually, 袄 has 夭 on the right, 补 has 卜 (bǔ), and 衩 has 叉 (chà). Remember: 袄 is for wearing, 补 is for fixing, and 衩 is for a slit.

袄 typically refers to a short, padded or lined jacket, like 棉袄 (cotton-padded jacket) worn in winter. It is common in northern China for warmth. Culturally, a 棉袄 is a traditional garment, and wearing one can evoke a cozy, old-fashioned feel.

Common words containing 袄 include: 棉袄 (mián ǎo) — cotton-padded jacket; 皮袄 (pí ǎo) — fur-lined jacket; 夹袄 (jiá ǎo) — lined jacket / double-layered coat.