jiào
verb #79,081

Meanings

  1. 1 to ferment
  2. 2 leaven; yeast
  3. 3 fermentation

Examples

Miàntuán yào fājiào liǎng gè xiǎoshí cái néng zhēng.
The dough needs to rise for two hours before steaming.
Jiàomǔ néng ràng miànbāo sōngruǎn.
Yeast makes bread soft and fluffy.
Suānnǎi shì niúnǎi fājiào zuòchéng de.
Yogurt is made by fermenting milk.

Tips

usage
Common in 发酵 ('to ferment') and 酵母 ('yeast'). 发酵 also extends figuratively to a situation or rumor that 'ferments', meaning it keeps brewing and spreading.

Components

radical
yǒu
wine vessel
The wine-jar radical on the left ties this to brewing and alcohol: fermentation is the process behind making wine, so words about it carry this radical.
phonetic
xiào
filial piety
Supplies the sound on the right: xiào shifted to jiào. It carries no 'filial' meaning here, only the phonetic value.

Stroke Order

jiào