jiāo: 交 - To Hand Over, Exchange, Intersect, Make Friends

• Keywords: jiao, 交, Chinese character jiao, jiao meaning, to hand over in Chinese, to make friends in Chinese, to exchange in Chinese, jiao pengyou, jiaotong, jiaoliu, Chinese verb for handing in, pay rent Chinese, traffic Chinese.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of the versatile Chinese character 交 (jiāo), a fundamental verb that goes far beyond a simple translation. From the practical action of handing over homework (`交作业`) and the social act of making friends (`交朋友`) to abstract concepts like communication (`交流`) and traffic (`交通`), 交 (jiāo) is all about connection, exchange, and intersection. This page breaks down its core meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāo
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To hand over, to deliver, to exchange, to intersect, or to associate with.
• In a Nutshell: The core idea of 交 (jiāo) is “crossing” or “meeting.” Imagine two things coming together and having an exchange. This can be a physical object crossing from your hands to another's (handing over), two roads crossing (an intersection), or the lives and ideas of two people crossing (making friends, communicating). It always implies a transfer, a connection, or a point of meeting between two or more entities.

• 交 (jiāo): This single character is a pictogram. It originally depicted a person with their legs crossed. This simple, ancient image perfectly captures the character's modern meanings: crossing, intersecting, mixing, and exchanging. When you see 交, think of this image of crossing and connection.

The character 交 (jiāo) is a cornerstone of Chinese social philosophy, which places immense value on relationships and interpersonal connections. While in English one might “be friendly” as a general personality trait, the Chinese action of `交朋友 (jiāo péngyou)`, or “making friends,” is a more deliberate and significant act. It is the verb that initiates a relationship. This contrasts with the Western concept of “networking,” which can sometimes feel transactional. The act of 交 (jiāo) in a social context is the first step in building genuine `关系 (guānxi)`, or deep-seated personal connections, which are built on mutual trust and obligation. The goal isn't just to know someone, but to establish a connection with them. This highlights the collectivist nature of Chinese society, where one's identity and success are deeply intertwined with their social web—a web woven together by countless acts of 交.

交 (jiāo) is an extremely common and practical verb used in many everyday situations.

This is the most direct and frequent use of 交. It implies transferring something to a person or institution of authority or for a specific purpose.

• 交作业 (jiāo zuòyè): to hand in homework
• 交报告 (jiāo bàogào): to submit a report
• 交房租 (jiāo fángzū): to pay the rent (handing over the money)
• 交费 (jiāo fèi): to pay a fee

This usage is fundamental to social life.

• 交朋友 (jiāo péngyou): to make friends
• 交往 (jiāowǎng): to associate with; to date or be in a relationship

Here, 交 forms words related to the exchange of ideas, culture, or words.

• 交流 (jiāoliú): to exchange, to communicate
• 交谈 (jiāotán): to converse, to chat

This usage refers to the physical crossing of things.

• 交通 (jiāotōng): traffic, transportation (the “crossing and passing through”)
• 交叉 (jiāochā): to cross, to intersect

• Example 1:
  • 你今天交作业了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān jiāo zuòyè le ma?
  • English: Did you hand in your homework today?
  • Analysis: A classic and essential sentence for any student. Here, 交 means “to hand in” or “submit” to a teacher.
• Example 2:
  • 我每个月一号交房租。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè yī hào jiāo fángzū.
  • English: I pay the rent on the 1st of every month.
  • Analysis: 交 is used here for a required, formal payment. It's not just “giving” money; it's fulfilling an obligation by “handing it over.”
• Example 3:
  • 我想和更多中国人交朋友。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng hé gèng duō Zhōngguó rén jiāo péngyou.
  • English: I want to make friends with more Chinese people.
  • Analysis: This shows the social function of 交. It's the action verb for “making” friends.
• Example 4:
  • 请把护照交给我。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ hùzhào jiāo gěi wǒ.
  • English: Please hand your passport over to me.
  • Analysis: This is a very common structure, `把 + Object + 交给 + Person`. It's a formal and clear way to request someone to hand something over.
• Example 5:
  • 我们需要加强文化交流。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào jiāqiáng wénhuà jiāoliú.
  • English: We need to strengthen cultural exchange.
  • Analysis: 交流 (jiāoliú) is a key word in business, diplomacy, and education. It means to exchange ideas, cultures, or information.
• Example 6:
  • 上下班时间的交通很堵。
  • Pinyin: Shàngxiàbān shíjiān de jiāotōng hěn dǔ.
  • English: The traffic during rush hour is very congested.
  • Analysis: 交通 (jiāotōng) literally means “to cross and pass through.” It's the standard word for transportation and traffic.
• Example 7:
  • 他们交往了三年才结婚。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen jiāowǎng le sān nián cái jiéhūn.
  • English: They were in a relationship for three years before they got married.
  • Analysis: 交往 (jiāowǎng) describes the ongoing process of association or a romantic relationship.
• Example 8:
  • 这个项目的负责人已经把工作交给了他的助理。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de fùzérén yǐjīng bǎ gōngzuò jiāo gěi le tā de zhùlǐ.
  • English: The person in charge of this project has already handed the work over to his assistant.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates 交 in a professional context, implying a transfer of responsibility.
• Example 9:
  • 我们找个地方坐下来交谈一下吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhǎo ge dìfang zuò xiàlái jiāotán yíxià ba.
  • English: Let's find a place to sit down and have a talk.
  • Analysis: 交谈 (jiāotán) is a slightly more formal word than `聊天 (liáotiān)` (to chat), implying a more purposeful conversation.
• Example 10:
  • 这两条直线在A点相交。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng tiáo zhíxiàn zài A diǎn xiāngjiāo.
  • English: These two straight lines intersect at point A.
  • Analysis: 相交 (xiāngjiāo) is the mathematical and technical term for “to intersect,” perfectly illustrating the core meaning of “crossing.”

• 交 (jiāo) vs. 给 (gěi): This is a critical distinction.
  • 给 (gěi) means “to give.” It's a general, one-way action. `我给你一本书` (I give you a book).
  • 交 (jiāo) means “to hand over” or “submit.” It implies a formal transaction, a transfer of responsibility, or fulfilling a requirement. You 交 your homework to a teacher, you 交 rent to a landlord.
  • Incorrect: `我给了老师我的作业。` (Wǒ gěi le lǎoshī wǒ de zuòyè.) - While understandable, it sounds unnatural.
  • Correct: `我把作业交给老师了。` (Wǒ bǎ zuòyè jiāo gěi lǎoshī le.) or simply `我交作业了。` (Wǒ jiāo zuòyè le.)
• Making Friends: Don't translate “I became friends with him” literally. The verb you need is 交.
  • Incorrect: `我成了他的朋友。` (Wǒ chéng le tā de péngyou.) - This sounds like you transformed into his friend.
  • Correct: `我跟他交了朋友。` (Wǒ gēn tā jiāo le péngyou.)

• `交流 (jiāoliú)` - To exchange, communicate. A compound word that specifies the “exchange” meaning of 交 to ideas and culture.
• `交通 (jiāotōng)` - Traffic, transportation. A compound that uses the “intersect/cross” meaning of 交.
• `朋友 (péngyou)` - Friend. The person you connect with through the action of `交朋友`.
• `关系 (guānxi)` - Relationships, connections. The social network that is built and maintained through acts of 交 and `交往`.
• `提交 (tíjiāo)` - To submit. A more formal, often written or digital, version of 交 used for applications, code, or formal documents.
• `付 (fù)` - To pay. A close synonym when dealing with money (`付费` vs. `交费`). 付 focuses on the act of payment itself, while 交 often carries a stronger sense of fulfilling an obligation.
• `递 (dì)` - To hand over, to pass. Similar to 交 but usually refers to a more direct, physical passing of an object from one person to another, and is often less formal.
• `交往 (jiāowǎng)` - To associate with, to date. This describes the ongoing state of a relationship that was initiated by 交.