教 (jiào) - To teach & to instruct

教Tone 4

jiào ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

教 · jiào

To teach;

to instruct;

education;

religion;

to make someone do something.

To teachto instructeducation

Usage highlights

EducationTeacherTeaching materialsReligionClassroomTextbook

Synonyms

  • 授— to confer, to instruct
  • 导— to guide, to lead
  • 训— to train, to instruct

Antonyms

  • 学— to learn, to study

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The teacher teaches mathematics (教数学).
  • He received a religious education (宗教教育).
  • Please teach me how to cook (教我做饭).
  • Compulsory education is important (义务教育).

Collocations

  • Education(教育)
  • Teacher(教师)
  • Teaching materials(教材)
  • Religion(宗教)
  • Classroom(教室)
  • Textbook(教科书)

Idioms

  • Teach by precept and example(言传身教)
  • Receive instruction and benefit from it(受教获益)
  • Indulgent parenting spoils the child(娇生惯教)
  • Teach a lesson(教训一番)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Confucian tradition highly values education and teaching as fundamental to moral cultivation.
  • The character appears in terms for major world religions (佛教 Buddhism, 基督教 Christianity).
  • Historically, teaching was considered one of the most respected professions in Chinese society.

FAQ