潦

2 readings · tap one to hear it

flooded; heavy rain

Sound it out + = · + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

氵 meaning “water” + 尞 sound

Components 氵尞

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
贫穷潦倒	pín qióng liáo dǎo	destitute; poverty-stricken
穷困潦倒	qióng kùn liáo dǎo	(idiom) to live in poverty and despair; down and out; destitute and without hope
穷愁潦倒	qióng chóu liáo dǎo	impoverished and dejected; wretched and penniless
潦草	liáo cǎo	slipshod; careless; slovenly; (of handwriting) scrawly; illegible
潦倒	liáo dǎo	down on one's luck; in straitened circumstances; disappointed; frustrated

Characters sharing the sound component 尞 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
尞 sound part	—	fuel used for sacrifices
撩	liáo	to lift, to raise; to provoke, to tease; to push aside clothing
僚	liáo	companion, colleague; officials; bureaucracy; a pretty face
鹩	liáo	wren
燎	liáo	to burn, to light; street lamp; signal fire
寮	liáo	shanty, hut, shack
缭	liáo	confused; to bind; to wind around
瞭	liào	bright; clear-sighted; to understand
镣	liào	fetters, leg-irons
嘹	liáo	a clear sound, such as a bell or a soprano; resonant
膫	liáo	omentum; the fat covering the intestines
蟟	liáo	cicada