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教 [2025/08/10 12:04] – created xiaoer教 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== jiāo/jiào: 教 - To Teach / Teaching, Religion ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** jiao, jiāo, jiào, Chinese character 教, meaning of jiao, teach in Chinese, religion in Chinese, Chinese word for education, Chinese character for teach, HSK 教, education in China, Chinese culture +
-  * **Summary:** The Chinese character 教 (jiāo/jiào) is a cornerstone of the language, embodying the concepts of teaching, education, and religion. As a verb, **jiāo (jiāo)** means "to teach," while as a noun component, **jiào (jiào)** forms essential words like "education" (教育), "classroom" (教室), and "religion" (宗教). Understanding this single character unlocks a deep cultural appreciation for the value China places on learning, guidance, and systems of belief. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiāo / jiào +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Verb (jiāo); Noun component (jiào) +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 (as jiāo); used in HSK 3+ compounds (as jiào) +
-  * **Concise Definition:** As a verb (jiāo), it means "to teach"; as a noun component (jiào), it relates to the system or field of "teaching" or "religion." +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of 教 as the root of all instruction. The first-tone pronunciation, `jiāo`, is the *action*—the physical act of teaching someone something. The fourth-tone pronunciation, `jiào`, is the *concept* or *system*—it's found in words that describe the institutions and ideas built around teaching, like education, classrooms, and even religious doctrines (which are systems of teachings). +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **教** is a pictophonetic compound character that tells a rich story: +
-  * On the left is **孝 (xiào)**, meaning "filial piety." This character itself is a combination of 老 (lǎo - old, top part) and 子 (zǐ - child, bottom part), depicting a child supporting an elder. This component provides the sound and a core part of the meaning: teaching is rooted in respect and tradition passed down through generations. +
-  * On the right is **攵 (pū)**, a radical that originally depicted a hand holding a stick. It signifies action, discipline, or causing something to happen. +
-  * **Combined Meaning:** The character powerfully illustrates the traditional concept of teaching: an elder or authority figure (孝) taking action (攵) to guide, instruct, and discipline a child or student. It carries a sense of authority, respect, and active guidance. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The character 教 is deeply embedded in the bedrock of Chinese culture, which has historically placed immense value on education and respect for teachers. +
-  *   **Confucian Values:** In Confucian thought, education is not just about acquiring skills but about moral cultivation and self-improvement. The teacher (老师, lǎoshī) is a figure of profound respect, a guide in both academics and life. The character 教 reflects this, implying that teaching is a moral responsibility passed down from the wise. +
-  *   **Imperial Examinations:** For centuries, the Imperial Examination System (科举, kējǔ) was the primary means of social mobility. Success was achieved through rigorous study and instruction, making education the most important pursuit for many families. This historical emphasis has created a modern culture where academic achievement is highly prioritized. +
-  *   **Comparison to "Teaching" in the West:** While "to teach" in English is a neutral verb, **教 (jiāo)** in Chinese often carries a heavier weight of guidance and mentorship. A Chinese teacher is expected to be a role model (为人师表, wéi rén shī biǎo). The relationship can be more hierarchical and personal than the often more transactional student-teacher dynamic in the West. It's less like "transferring information" and more like "cultivating a person." +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-The dual pronunciation of 教 is critical for daily use. +
-=== As a Verb: jiāo (1st tone) === +
-This is used for the direct action of teaching or instructing. It's very common in daily conversation. +
-  * "Can you teach me?" (你能不能**教**我？ Nǐ néng bu néng jiāo wǒ?) +
-  * "He teaches math." (他**教**数学。 Tā jiāo shùxué.) +
-=== As a Noun Component: jiào (4th tone) === +
-This is used in compound words related to the systems, places, and concepts of teaching and religion. You will almost never see `jiào` used as a standalone word. +
-  * **Education:** 教育 (jiàoyù) +
-  * **Classroom:** 教室 (jiàoshì) +
-  * **Professor:** 教授 (jiàoshòu) +
-  * **Religion:** 宗教 (zōngjiào) +
-  * **Christianity:** 基督教 (Jīdūjiào) +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 你能**教**我怎么用这个软件吗？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ néng **jiāo** wǒ zěnme yòng zhège ruǎnjiàn ma? +
-    * English: Can you teach me how to use this software? +
-    * Analysis: Here, `jiāo` is used as a simple verb for the action of teaching a skill. This is a very common and practical usage. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 我爸爸**教**我开车。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ bàba **jiāo** wǒ kāichē. +
-    * English: My dad taught me how to drive. +
-    * Analysis: This example shows `jiāo` used for passing on a practical life skill from a family member. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 王老师在大学**教**历史。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wáng lǎoshī zài dàxué **jiāo** lìshǐ. +
-    * English: Teacher Wang teaches history at the university. +
-    * Analysis: A straightforward example of someone's profession. Note the verb is `jiāo`. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 中国的**教**育系统竞争很激烈。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhōngguó de **jiào**yù xìtǒng jìngzhēng hěn jīliè. +
-    * English: China's education system is very competitive. +
-    * Analysis: Here, we see `jiào` in the compound word 教育 (jiàoyù - education). It refers to the entire system, not the act of teaching. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 上课了，请同学们回到**教**室。 +
-    * Pinyin: Shàngkè le, qǐng tóngxuémen huí dào **jiào**shì. +
-    * English: Class is starting, could the students please return to the classroom. +
-    * Analysis: `jiào` is part of 教室 (jiàoshì - classroom), the "teaching room". +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 他是一位很有名的大学**教**授。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā shì yí wèi hěn yǒumíng de dàxué **jiào**shòu. +
-    * English: He is a very famous university professor. +
-    * Analysis: A professor (教授, jiàoshòu) is literally a "teach and receive" person, an expert who imparts knowledge. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 这次失败**教**会了我很多东西。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè cì shībài **jiāo**huì le wǒ hěn duō dōngxi. +
-    * English: This failure taught me a lot. +
-    * Analysis: The compound verb `教会 (jiāohuì)` means "to teach someone until they understand/can do it." It implies a lesson has been learned. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 他对不同的**宗**教都很感兴趣。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā duì bùtóng de **zōngjiào** dōu hěn gǎn xìngqù. +
-    * English: He is very interested in different religions. +
-    * Analysis: `jiào` is used in 宗教 (zōngjiào - religion), which can be understood as "ancestral teachings." +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 你不应该这么做，我**教**过你多少次了？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhème zuò, wǒ **jiāo** guo nǐ duōshǎo cì le? +
-    * English: You shouldn't do it like this, how many times have I taught you? +
-    * Analysis: A common phrase used by parents or teachers, showing a bit of frustration. `jiāo` is the clear verb here. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 这本是我们的数学**教**科书。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè běn shì wǒmen de shùxué **jiào**kēshū. +
-    * English: This is our math textbook. +
-    * Analysis: `jiào` appears in 教科书 (jiàokēshū - textbook), literally a "teaching-subject book." +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  *   **The jiāo / jiào Pronunciation Trap:** This is the most common mistake. Remember the rule: **Action = jiāo (1st tone)**. **System/Concept/Noun = jiào (4th tone)**. +
-    *   Correct: 我**教 (jiāo)** 你。 (I teach you.) +
-    *   Incorrect: 我**教 (jiào)** 你。 +
-    *   Correct: 这是**教 (jiào)** 室。 (This is a classroom.) +
-    *   Incorrect: 这是**教 (jiāo)** 室。 +
-  *   **教 (jiāo) vs. 告诉 (gàosu):** A classic false friend situation. `教` is for teaching a skill, process, or body of knowledge. `告诉` is for telling a piece of information. +
-    *   **Incorrect:** 他**教**我会议取消了。(He //taught// me the meeting was cancelled.) +
-    *   **Correct:** 他**告诉**我会议取消了。(He //told// me the meeting was cancelled.) +
-    *   **Correct:** 他**教**我中文。(He //teaches// me Chinese.) +
-  *   **Forgetting it's part of a compound:** Learners often try to use `jiào` by itself as a noun. It almost never is. You can't say "我喜欢教 (wǒ xǐhuān jiào)" to mean "I like education." You must use the full word: "我喜欢**教育** (wǒ xǐhuān jiàoyù)." +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  *   [[教育]] (jiàoyù) - Education. The formal system and concept built around 教. +
-  *   [[老师]] (lǎoshī) - Teacher. The person who performs the action of 教. +
-  *   [[学生]] (xuésheng) - Student. The person who receives the action of 教. +
-  *   [[学习]] (xuéxí) - To study/learn. The opposite action of 教; what the student does. +
-  *   [[教室]] (jiàoshì) - Classroom. The "teaching room" where 教 often takes place. +
-  *   [[教授]] (jiàoshòu) - Professor. A high-level teacher. +
-  *   [[宗教]] (zōngjiào) - Religion. A system of "teachings." +
-  *   [[辅导]] (fǔdǎo) - To tutor/coach. A more personal and supportive form of teaching. +
-  *   [[指导]] (zhǐdǎo) - To guide/direct. A broader term for giving guidance, which can be a form of teaching. +
-  *   [[教科书]] (jiàokēshū) - Textbook. The material used for teaching a subject.+