liáo

獠

Character · Verb · AdverbTraditional聊

chat; tentatively; rely on

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 8 examples
1.

verb

to chat; to converse casually

The most common usage in modern Chinese, often appearing in compounds like 聊天.

Wǒ我
men们
zuó昨
wǎn晚
liáo聊
le了
hěn很
jiǔ久
 。

We chatted for a long time last night.

Tā他
men们
xǐ喜
huan欢
liáo聊
diàn电
yǐng影
hé和
yīn音
yuè乐
 。

They like to talk about movies and music.

Show 1 more example
Yǒu有
kòng空
lái来
wǒ我
bàn办
gōng公
shì室
liáo聊
liáo聊
 。

Come by my office for a chat when you have time.

2.

adverb

tentatively; for the time being; rather

formal

Used in formal or literary set phrases, often implying a temporary or insufficient solution.

liáo聊
yǐ以
zì自
wèi慰

to console oneself as best one can

Liáo聊
shèng胜
yú于
wú无
 。

Better than nothing.

Show 1 more example
Gū姑
qiě且
liáo聊
bèi备
yī一
gé格
 。

Let it serve as one style among others for the time being.

3.

verb

to rely on; to depend on

archaic

Primarily found in classical Chinese and set phrases like 民不聊生.

Mín民
bù不
liáo聊
shēng生
 。

The people have no means of livelihood.

Bǎi百
wú无
liáo聊
lài赖
 。

Bored to death; utterly bored.