造 zào — construct · English

造

zào

construct

At a glance · 造

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「造」从辵告声，小篆从辵告声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「造」本义为到、就，引申制造、创建、仓促（造次）。

Structure

从辵、告声，形声字，辵表行走义类，告表音，本为至、作。

At a glance

Pinyinzào

Radical辶

Strokes11

UnicodeU+9020

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English construct construct, build, make, begin; prepare

Français soudain / faire Soudain, faire. «造次弗离» : à la hâte, ne pas quitter (la bonté).

Español súbito / hacer Súbito, hacer. «造次弗离»: de prisa, no dejar (la bondad).

العربية فجأة / يفعل فجأة، يفعل. «造次弗离»: في العجلة، لا تترك (اللطف).

Русский внезапно / делать Внезапно, делать. «造次弗离»: в спешке не оставляй (доброту).

Common words

创造chuàng zàocreate
制造zhì zàomake

◉ Listen