超

chāo
verb HSK 5 #931

Meanings

  1. 1 to exceed; to surpass
  2. 2 super-; ultra-; extremely
  3. 3 to overtake; to go beyond

Examples

HSK 1
Chāoshì zài nǎr?
Where is the supermarket?
HSK 5
Zhège chāojí hǎochī!
This is super delicious!
HSK 5
Búyào chāosù jiàshǐ.
Don't speed while driving.

Tips

usage
超 is used in: 超市 (supermarket), 超级 (super), 超过 (exceed), 超越 (surpass), 超速 (speeding). In slang, 超 is used like 'super/very': 超好看 (super good-looking).

Components

radical
走 zǒu
to walk; to run
Wrap-around walk radical on the bottom-left - the indexing radical. Originally depicted a running figure with swinging arms over a foot, signifying rapid motion. Names the 'leaping/exceeding' action of 超. Same family: 起 (rise), 趋 (hurry toward), 越 (leap over) - all about forward movement, fast or surpassing.
phonetic
召 zhào
to summon; to call
Inner 召 supplies the sound - zhào shifting to chāo in 超, a known palatal alternation. 召 itself shows 刀 (knife/authority) above 口 (mouth) = a commanding call. Same phonetic family: 招 (beckon), 照 (shine on), 绍 (continue), 沼 (pond).

Stroke Order

超 chāo