liáo

聊

HSK 6Character · Adverb · Noun · Verb

tentatively; slightly; chat; rely on

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 22 examples
1.

adverb

tentatively; just for the sake of

literary

Used in formal or literary written contexts, often to express doing something as a makeshift or temporary measure.

Zhè这
bēi杯
chá茶
jiù就
liáo聊
yǐ以
jiě解
kě渴
ba吧
 。

Just drink this cup of tea to quench your thirst temporarily.

Tā他
liáo聊
yǐ以
zì自
wèi慰
de地
shuō说
zì自
jǐ己
yǐ已
jīng经
jìn尽
lì力
le了
 。

He comforted himself by saying he had done his best.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
jiàn件
jiù旧
yī衣
fu服
liáo聊
yǐ以
bì蔽
tǐ体
jiù就
kě可
yǐ以
le了
 。

This old garment is just enough to cover my body.

Wǒ我
xiān先
liáo聊
chōng充
shù数
 ,
děng等
xià下
zài再
huàn换
gèng更
hé合
shì适
de的
rén人
 。

I'll just make up the number for now, then replace me with a more suitable person later.

Zhè这
diǎnr点
lǐ儿
wù礼
liáo物
biǎo聊
xīn表
yì心
bù意
 ,
chéng不
jìng成
yì敬
 意
 。

This small gift is just to express my gratitude, it's nothing much.

2.

adverb

slightly; a little

literary

Used in formal written contexts to indicate a small degree of action or expression.

Zhè这
bēi杯
bó薄
jiǔ酒
liáo聊
biǎo表
cùn寸
xīn心
 ,
bù不
chéng成
jìng敬
yì意
 。

This cup of weak wine is just to show my slight regard, it's not much of a gift.

Tā他
de的
huà话
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
 ,
zhì至
shǎo少
gěi给
le了
wǒ我
yī一
diǎn点
xī希
wàng望
 。

His words are better than nothing, at least they gave me a little hope.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
zhǐ只
liáo聊
jìn尽
mián绵
bó薄
zhī之
lì力
 ,
bāng帮
bù不
liǎo了
tài太
duō多
máng忙
 。

I can only do a small favor, I can't help too much.

Zhè这
diǎn点
bǔ补
cháng偿
liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
 ,
xī希
wàng望
nǐ你
néng能
jiē接
shòu受
 。

This compensation is better than nothing, I hope you can accept it.

Tā他
de的
jiě解
shì释
liáo聊
jiě解
wǒ我
xīn心
tóu头
de的
yí疑
huò惑
 。

His explanation slightly relieved my confusion.

3.

noun

surname Liao

Used as a family name, a common Chinese surname.

Liáo聊
xiān先
shēng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
xīn新
tóng同
shì事
 。

Mr. Liao is a new colleague in our company.

Wǒ我
rèn认
shi识
yī一
wèi位
xìng姓
Liáo聊
de的
péng朋
you友
 。

I know a friend whose surname is Liao.

4.

verb

rely on; depend on

literary

Used in formal written contexts to describe relying on someone or something for survival or support.

Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
lǐ里
nóng农
mín民
bù不
liáo聊
shēng生
 ,
shēng生
huó活
shí十
fēn分
kùn困
kǔ苦
 。

In the old society, farmers had no means to survive and lived in extreme poverty.

Zhè这
jiā家
xiǎo小
gōng工
chǎng厂
lài赖
yǐ以
shēng生
cún存
de的
shì是
jǐ几
gè个
lǎo老
kè客
hù户
 。

This small factory relies on several regular customers to survive.

Show 3 more examples
Rén人
lèi类
bù不
néng能
liáo聊
lài赖
zì自
rán然
zī资
yuán源
wú无
jié节
zhì制
de地
suǒ索
qǔ取
 。

Humans cannot rely on natural resources to索取 without restraint.

Zhàn战
luàn乱
guò过
hòu后
 ,
bǎi百
xìng姓
mín民
bù不
liáo聊
shēng生
 。

After the war, the people had no means to make a living.

Zhè这
jiā家
xiǎo小
diàn店
liáo聊
lài赖
zhōu周
biān边
jū居
mín民
de的
shēng生
yì意
wéi维
chí持
yùn运
yíng营
 。

This small shop relies on the business of nearby residents to stay open.

5.

verb

chat; have a casual talk

informal

Used in daily spoken Chinese, very common in informal conversations.

Wǒ我
men们
zài在
kā咖
fēi啡
guǎn馆
lǐ里
xián闲
liáo聊
le了
yí一
gè个
xià下
wǔ午
 。

We chatted casually in the cafe for an entire afternoon.

Yǒu有
kòng空
ér儿
zán咱
men们
hǎo好
hǎo好
liáo聊
liáo聊
jiā家
cháng常
 。

When we have time, let's have a good chat about family matters.

Show 3 more examples
Xià下
bān班
hòu后
wǒ我
men们
yì一
qǐ起
liáo聊
tiānr天
ba儿
 吧
 。

Let's chat together after work.

Tā他
xǐ喜
huan欢
zài在
wǎng网
shàng上
hé和
péng朋
you友
liáo聊
tiān天
 。

He likes to chat with friends online.

Zán咱
men们
bié别
guāng光
liáo聊
 ,
gǎn赶
jǐn紧
gàn干
huó活
ba吧
 。

Let's stop chatting and get back to work quickly.