rào
verb HSK 5 #2,529

Meanings

  1. 1 to wind; to coil
  2. 2 to go around; to make a detour
  3. 3 to circle; to revolve around

Examples

Dìqiú rào tàiyáng zhuàn.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Qiánmiàn xiū lù, wǒmen ràodào zǒu ba.
The road ahead is under construction, let's take a detour.
Tā rào le yī dà quān cái zhǎodào nàge dìfang.
He went around in a big circle before finding that place.
Bié rào wānzi le, zhí shuō ba.
Stop beating around the bush, just say it directly.

Tips

usage
绕弯子 (rào wānzi) = to beat around the bush. 绕道 (ràodào) = to detour. 口令 (ràokǒulìng) = tongue twister (words that 'wind around' your mouth).
memory
(silk radical) + — imagine silk thread winding around and around something.

Stroke Order

rào