笑 (xiào) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 笑 (xiào) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 笑 (xiào) means "To laugh or smile". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 10 strokes and the radical ⺮.

Q: How do you write 笑 stroke by stroke?

笑 has 10 strokes. The radical is ⺮. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 笑 and 笔?

笑 (xiào) and 笔 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 笑?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical ⺮. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 笑?

Common words containing 笑 include: 玩笑 (wán xiào) — joke; 微笑 (wēi xiào) — smile; 笑容 (xiào róng) — Smile or smiling expression.

How to Write 笑

The character 笑 (xiào) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical ⺮ is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

笑 is pronounced xiào in Mandarin Chinese. It means To laugh or smile.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 笑 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 笑

玩笑 wán xiào

joke

微笑 wēi xiào

smile

笑容 xiào róng

Smile or smiling expression

Example Sentences

别开玩笑了。

bié kāi wán xiào le

Stop joking around.

她在对我微笑。

tā zài duì wǒ wēi xiào

She is smiling at me.

他的笑容很美。

tā de xiào róng hěn měi

His smile is very beautiful.

Similar Characters

笔 bǐ

笨 bèn

第 dì

Practice Writing 笑 (xiào)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 笑 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 笑

What does 笑 (xiào) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 笑 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 笑 and 笔?

What mistakes do learners make writing 笑?

What common words use 笑?

How to Write 笑 (xiào)