TongTong
Sign in

调情 (tiáo qíng) — to flirt

Definition

调情 (tiáoqíng) is an intransitive verb meaning 'to flirt' — light, playful romantic interaction. It focuses on the behavior itself, not deep attraction (unlike 恋爱).

verb
to flirt

Examples

  • 调情。
    Tā zài gēn nà ge nǚ hái tiáo qíng.
    He is flirting with that girl.
  • 。
    Tā zhī diào guò yí cì qíng.
    He only flirted once.
  • 调情。
    Bú yào suí biàn gēn bié rén tiáo qíng.
    Don't just flirt with anyone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

调tiáotease
情qíngaffection

调 'tease' plus 情 'affection' forms 'flirt'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu調tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
Romance & Marriage5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.