What does 摇 mean in Chinese?

摇 (yáo) means "to shake; to rock; to row; to crank" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 摇?

摇 is pronounced "yáo" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 摇?

摇 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 摇?

Common words with 摇 include 动摇 (to sway), 后摇 (post-rock (music genre)), 招摇 (to act ostentatiously), 摇光 (eta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper), 摇动 (to shake).

How do you write 摇?

You can practice writing 摇 using our stroke order tool.

摇 (yáo), to shake

摇

yáo

to shake; to rock; to row; to crank

HSK 5verb

Traditional: 搖

Character Breakdown

Radical: 手 (no. 64)Traditional: 搖

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to shake
to rock
to row
to crank

Example Sentences

妈妈轻轻摇着摇篮哄宝宝入睡唱着摇篮曲。

Māma qīngqīng yáo zhe yáolán hǒng bǎobao rùshuì chàng zhe yáolánqǔ

Mother gently rocks the cradle singing lullabies to coax the baby to sleep

Words Containing 摇

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
动摇	dòng yáo	to sway	HSK 7-9
后摇	hòu yáo	post-rock (music genre)
招摇	zhāo yáo	to act ostentatiously
摇光	yáo guāng	eta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper
摇动	yáo dòng

Related Words

摇撼(yáo hàn)· to shake

→

摇晃(yáo huàng)· to rock

→

晃荡(huàng dang)· to rock

→

杠荡(gàng dàng)· to shake

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

摇: HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 摇 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.