奥
Character learning workspace

ào · mysterious, obscure, profound

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Learn every stroke in 奥

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 奥 is constructed

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

12Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

大Key radical

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Vocabulary in context

Common words with 奥

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

àoWords pronounced ào
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 奥 sits in each complete thought.

Shuí néng jiē kāi hǎi yáng de ào mì?谁能揭开海洋的奥秘?

Who shall ever unravel the mysteries of the sea?

Source: Tatoeba #5574498 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ cuò guò le ào yùn huì de kāi mù shì.我错过了奥运会的开幕式。

I missed the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Source: Tatoeba #1738287 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài kàn ào yùn huì.他在看奥运会。

He's watching the Olympics.

Source: Tatoeba #9956720 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì ào dì lì rén.他是奥地利人。

He's Austrian.

Source: Tatoeba #2200476 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ào yùn huì zhòng yào de shì cānyù, bú shì huò shèng.奥运会重要的是参与,不是获胜。

The important thing about the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part in them.

Source: Tatoeba #334991 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhège zhǐyǒu ào bā mǎ zhī dào le.这个只有奥巴马知道了。

This is only known by Obama.

Source: Tatoeba #1014153 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 奥 in context

  1. Say ào, then recall the core meaning: mysterious, obscure, profound.
  2. Write all 12 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 奥秘 (ào mì), meaning “secret”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 奥 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.