敲 qiāo — to knock, to tap, to rap
qiāo (first tone, high and level)qiao1
to knock, to tap, to rap
HSK 4· HSK 1–4 (classic)verb
Meanings
to knock, to tap, to rap
A light, controlled rap against a hard surface — a door, a table, a bell. It is deliberate and usually meant to be heard, unlike the plain, all-purpose 打, hit, which can land on almost anything, including a person.
verb
Example sentences
- 有人敲门，你去看看是谁。有人敲門，你去看看是誰。Yǒu (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) qiāo (first tone, high and level) mén, (second tone, rising) nǐ (third tone, dipping) qù (fourth tone, falling) kànkan (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) shéi. (second tone, rising)···
Someone’s knocking on the door — go and see who it is.
- 进办公室以前，请先敲敲门。進辦公室以前，請先敲敲門。Jìn (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) yǐqián, (third tone, dipping) qǐng (third tone, dipping) xiān (first tone, high and level) qiāoqiao (first tone, high and level) mén. (second tone, rising)···
Before you go into the office, please knock first.
Common mistakes
Not quite他生气的时候喜欢敲他弟弟。
Correct他生气的时候喜欢打他弟弟。
敲 is a light, controlled rap against a hard surface — a door, a table, a bell. Hitting a person is 打; reaching for 敲 there makes it sound as if the brother were a door.