shào HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

士兵在门口站哨。
Shìbīng zài ménkǒu zhàn shào.
The soldier stands sentry at the door.
裁判吹响了哨子。
Cáipàn chuīxiǎngle shàozi.
The referee blew the whistle.
晚上有哨兵巡逻。
Wǎnshàng yǒu shàobīng xúnluó.
There are sentries patrolling at night.
他吹响了哨。
Tā chuī xiǎng le shào.
He blew the whistle.
哨在山上。
Shào zài shān shàng.
The sentry is on the mountain.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the sound 'shào' resembling the sharp blow of a whistle. The character 哨 includes 口 (kǒu, mouth) on the left, hinting at blowing, and 肖 (xiào, resemble) on the right, suggesting it mimics a sound—so it's a mouth-made sound that resembles a signal.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly found in contexts like sports (e.g., referees blowing whistles), security (e.g., guard posts), or everyday situations where a whistle is used for signaling, such as in training or emergencies.

📖 Grammar Points

As a noun, 哨 often appears as the object in verb-noun structures, such as 吹哨 (blow a whistle) or 听哨 (listen for a whistle). It can also be part of compound nouns like 哨子 or 哨兵, where it modifies or combines with other characters to specify meaning.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, whistles are associated with authority and order, commonly used by coaches, referees, or security personnel. Historically, whistles were used in military contexts for commands, and this usage persists in modern times, reflecting discipline and coordination.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 笛 (dí), which can mean 'flute' or 'whistle' but often refers to wind instruments or train whistles, 哨 specifically emphasizes a small, handheld whistle used for signaling. 口哨 (kǒu shào) is a mouth-whistle made with lips, while 哨 typically involves a physical device.

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