交

• Pinyin: jiāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 — depicts two lines crossing; original meaning was to cross or intersect, extended to hand over and exchange.

Meaning

To hand in; to submit; to pay. The act of giving something to someone in an official or required context.

Used for submitting homework (交作业), paying bills (交费), handing over documents, and making friends (交朋友). A versatile verb covering formal handovers and social connections.

Examples

1. 请明天把作业交给老师。 Please hand in the homework to the teacher tomorrow.
2. 我已经交了电话费。 I have already paid the phone bill.
3. 这个月的房租还没交。 This month's rent hasn't been paid yet.

Usage Guide

Context: school, payments, official

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 作业要按时交。(Homework should be submitted on time.)
• 我去交水电费。(I'm going to pay the utility bills.)

Don't Say

• 不要把交和给完全等同 (Don't treat 交 and 给 as the same — 交 implies a formal submission or payment, while 给 is simply to give)

Origin & History

Ancient character depicting two things crossing or intersecting. The concept of exchange and handover developed from this crossing motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal