绕

• Pinyin: rào
• Hanzi breakdown: 绕 = 纟(silk) + 尧 (phonetic), to wind around

Meaning

To go around; to circle; to wind; to bypass. Moving in a curved path around something.

Physical: 绕道 (take detour), 绕圈 (go in circles). Figurative: 绕弯子 (beat around the bush), 绕口令 (tongue twister). Also: 缠绕 (wind around).

Examples

1. 前面修路，我们得绕道走。 The road ahead is under construction, we need to take a detour.
2. 他说话总是绕来绕去，听不懂。 He always beats around the bush when talking, hard to understand.
3. 卫星绕着地球转。 Satellites orbit around the Earth.

Usage Guide

Context: direction, speech, movement

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 别绕弯子，直说吧。(Don't beat around the bush, just say it.)
• 绕过这座山就到了。(Go around this mountain and you'll arrive.)

Don't Say

• 绕直走。(Contradiction — 绕 implies going around, not straight)

Origin & History

纟(silk) + 尧 (phonetic). Thread winding around, hence circular movement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal