Meaning
according to; in accordance with; to shine; to illuminate; to reflect; photograph
Chinese: 照射、按照或照片。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “zhao” becomes a different word in each tone. 照 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 照片zhào piànphotograph
- 照顾zhào guto take care of; to show consideration; to attend to; to look after
- 护照hù zhàopassport
- 照相zhào xiàngto take a photograph
- 按照àn zhàoaccording to; in accordance with; on the basis of
Example Sentence
我们在长城前照了一张相。Wǒ men zài Cháng chéng qián zhào le yì zhāng xiàng.We took a photo in front of the Great Wall.
我们Wǒ menwe在zàiat长城Cháng chéngthe Great Wall前qiánfront照zhàoto shine了le(completed action)一yìone张zhāngto open up相xiàngeach other。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
昭 (bright) plus 灬 (fire): light cast on things — ‘to shine, light up; to reflect, mirror; to take (a photo); to look after; according to, in the direction of; a license, a photo’ (照片, 按照, 照顾).
A way to remember it
Light (灬) shining — to shine; a photo (照片); according to (按照).