chāo
verb HSK 6 #931

Meanings

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

Examples

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

Tips

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

Components

radical
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 . Same family: (rise), (hurry toward), (leap over) — all about forward movement, fast or surpassing.
phonetic
zhào
to summon; to call
Inner supplies the sound — zhào shifting to chāo in , a known palatal alternation. itself shows (knife/authority) above (mouth) = a commanding call. Same phonetic family: (beckon), (shine on), (continue), (pond).

Stroke Order

chāo