聊 (liáo) - To chat & to talk
聊 · liáo
To chat;
to talk;
to pass time;
merely;
just;
to depend on;
to rely on.
To chatto talkto pass time
Usage highlights
ChatChat roomSmall talkBoring chatGossipOnline chat
Usage & contexts
Examples
- Let's chat for a while (聊一会儿).
- I'm just passing time (聊以自慰).
- They chatted online (网上聊天).
- This is merely a temporary solution (聊胜于无).
Collocations
- Chat(聊天)
- Chat room(聊天室)
- Small talk(闲聊)
- Boring chat(无聊)
- Gossip(聊八卦)
- Online chat(网聊)
Idioms
- Better than nothing(聊胜于无)
- To comfort oneself(聊以自慰)
- To pass the time(聊以卒岁)
- Merely coping(聊复尔耳)
- Just for amusement(聊以解嘲)
Cultural background
FAQ- Originally meant 'to rely on' in classical Chinese, evolving to mean casual conversation in modern usage.
- The character appears in many expressions about passing time or making do with minimal satisfaction.
- In digital era, 聊 has become strongly associated with online communication and chat platforms.