燎 (liáo) — to singe, to burn slightly (hair, feathers, etc.)
Definition
燎 (liáo) means to singe or scorch lightly — typically hair, feathers, or other light, flammable things touched briefly by flame. It implies a quick, surface-level burn, not a sustained fire.
verb
to singeto burn slightly (hair, feathers, etc.)
Easily confused
- 撩liāolook-alike(bound form) to tease, to provoke
- 聊liáosound-aliketo chat
- 僚liáolook-alike(bound form) official; colleague (used in compounds like 官僚, 同僚)
- 疗liáosound-alike(bound form) to treat (an illness), to cure; therapy, recuperation
- 辽liáosound-alikeshort name for Liaoning province
- 寮liáosound-alike(bound form) small house; hut
Examples
- 燎。Tā bù xiǎo xīn liáo le tóu fa.She accidentally singed her hair.
- 燎。Chú shī yòng huǒ bǎ jī máo liáo le.The chef singed the chicken feathers with fire.
- 燎燎。Tā liáo le liáo hú zi.He singed his beard a bit.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
尞
尞liáo燎liáo
Same sound today
燎 uses 火 (fire) to show the meaning of burning, and 尞 to give its sound liáo.
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