吊

• Pinyin: diào
• Hanzi breakdown: 吊 = 口 (mouth, phonetic) + 巾 (cloth/towel hanging down)

Meaning

To hang; to suspend; to hoist. Describes the action of suspending something from above, often with a rope or hook.

Has a wide range of uses: 吊灯 (chandelier), 吊车 (crane), 吊床 (hammock). Can also mean to revoke or withdraw, as in 吊销执照 (revoke a license). In casual speech, 吊 can describe someone acting cool or aloof in an arrogant way, though this usage is informal.

Examples

1. 工人们正在用吊车把钢梁吊到五楼。 The workers are using a crane to hoist the steel beam up to the fifth floor.
2. 客厅中间吊着一盏水晶灯，晚上开灯特别漂亮。 A crystal chandelier hangs in the middle of the living room; it looks especially beautiful when lit at night.
3. 他连续三次酒驾，驾照被吊销了五年。 He drove drunk three times in a row, and his license was revoked for five years.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, home, legal

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 阳台上吊了几盆花，看着很温馨。(A few pots of flowers hang on the balcony, looking very cozy.)
• 这个灯太重了，普通挂钩吊不住。(This lamp is too heavy; a regular hook can't hold it up.)

Don't Say

• 用吊来形容挂衣服 (For hanging clothes on a hook or hanger, use 挂 rather than 吊 — 吊 implies suspension from above, often with a rope)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character: 口 (mouth) provides the sound, and the character originally depicted something hanging. Ancient meaning related to mourning (visiting the bereaved), which evolved to the physical sense of hanging.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal