HSK 3 · Chinese hanzi
照 — to shine
- Reading
- zhào
- Meaning
- to shine; to illuminate; to photograph; to reflect
- HSK level
- HSK 3
- Language
- Chinese
About this hanzi
照 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 3 level. Its primary reading is zhào and it means to shine; to illuminate; to photograph; to reflect. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
照 appears in everyday chinese words such as 照 (photograph, reflect), 护照 (passport) and 拍照 (take photos).
Chinese words containing 照
Frequently asked questions
What does 照 mean in Chinese?
照 means to shine; to illuminate; to photograph; to reflect in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 3 hanzi every learner meets at that level.
How is 照 read?
照 is read zhào. Reading it inside real words — 照 and 护照 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 照 — is it HSK 3?
Yes. 照 is on the official HSK 3 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 照 in a word?
A common word containing 照 is 照 (zhào) — "photograph, reflect". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 照 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 照 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More HSK 3 hanzi
Learn every HSK hanzi in context
InputDojo gives you the full HSK 1–9 hanzi list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Chinese content. Free to start.
Start free