How to Write 缴 (jiǎo) — Meaning “to pay”

Imagine you have to pay a fee, and you tie your money in a silk cloth (纟) before handing it over. The right side 敫 looks like a person with a stick, reminding you to "prod" yourself to pay on time. This combines the silk radical and the action of paying.

The left side 纟 is narrow and should be written with three strokes: the first two are diagonal, the third is a vertical hook. The right side 敫 has a complex structure with many strokes, so keep the top part compact and balance the bottom evenly. A common mistake is making the silk radical too wide, which unbalances the character.

缴 (jiǎo) means "to pay" or "to hand over," while 缥 (piǎo) is a rarely-used character meaning "light blue silk." 缦 (màn) refers to "plain silk" or "slow." Visually, 缴 has the right component 敫, 缥 has 票, and 缦 has 曼. Their meanings are completely different despite sharing the silk radical.

缴 is commonly used for paying fees or taxes, such as in 缴费 (pay a fee) and 缴纳 (pay taxes). It also appears in military contexts like 缴获 (capture enemy supplies). Culturally, paying fees on time is important in Chinese society, and this character appears on many bills and official documents.

Common words containing 缴 include: 缴费 (jiǎo fèi) — to pay a fee; 缴纳 (jiǎo nà) — to pay (taxes, fees, etc.); 缴获 (jiǎo huò) — to capture (spoils of war).