靠 Stroke Order — How to Write 靠
靠 is written in 15 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 非, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
靠 Radical and Character Components
靠 is a phono-semantic compound: 非 (people back-to-back) carries the meaning, while 告 indicates the sound.
Radical: 非 + 7 more strokes
靠 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- kào
Meanings of 靠 in Chinese
1
kào靠
to lean against; to rely on; to get close to
他喜欢靠着窗户看书
He likes to lean against the window to read.
to rely on; to depend on; to lean on for support
我们应该靠自己的努力成功。
We should rely on our own efforts to succeed.
To trust; reliable; dependable.
他是个非常靠得住的人，把这项任务交给他我很放心。
He is a very trustworthy person; I feel very relieved handing this task over to him.
Kào refers to the elaborate armor or costume worn by military generals in traditional Chinese opera, often featuring 'kàoqí' (flags attached to the back) and forming part of a 'zhākào' (armored costume).
武生演員穿上精美的靠服，背後插著四面靠旗，顯得威風凜凜。
The wǔshēng actor put on the exquisite kào costume, with four kàoqí (back flags) inserted in the back, looking majestic and imposing.
Common Words and Phrases with 靠
1
backrest
这把椅子设计得很舒适，尤其是它的靠背弧度。
This chair is designed very comfortably, especially the curve of its backrest.
2
To keep to the side or move aside; figuratively, to be sidelined or marginalized.
为了让行人通行，司机关掉引擎，将车靠边停稳
To allow pedestrians to pass, the driver turned off the engine and pulled the car over to the side.
3
To stand aside or get out of the way; figuratively, to be sidelined or lose power/influence.
请大家靠边站，给后面的车辆腾出道路。
Please everyone stand aside to make way for the vehicles behind.
4
undependable; unreliable; untrustworthy
这台旧电脑总是死机，关键时刻靠不住。
This old computer often crashes, it's unreliable at critical moments.
5
reliable; dependable; trustworthy
他是一个靠得住的朋友，总能在你需要帮助的时候出现。
He is a reliable friend who always shows up when you need help.
6
a cushion for leaning on
我喜欢在沙发上看书时，在腰部放一个柔软的靠垫。
I like to place a soft back cushion at my lower back when reading on the sofa.
7
To be near or close to something, or to approach/draw near to something, reducing the distance.
小猫喜欢靠近温暖的炉子睡觉。
The kitten likes to sleep close to the warm stove.
8
To draw close to each other, reducing the distance between them.
船只慢慢地向码头靠拢。
The boat slowly drew near the pier.
9
a powerful supporter or backer
他在公司里有个强大的靠山，所以很多事情都比较顺利。
He has powerful backing within the company, which is why many things go relatively smoothly for him.
10
armrest
这把新椅子的靠手设计得很舒适，长时间坐着也不会觉得累
The armrests of this new chair are designed very comfortably, so you won't feel tired even sitting for a long time.
11
A person or thing one relies on or depends on; a backer.
在这个陌生的城市，他感到孤独，急切地想找到一个可以倾诉的靠头。
In this unfamiliar city, he felt lonely and eagerly wanted to find someone to confide in, a reliable support.
12
depend upon; rely on; entrust
他把自己的梦想靠托在每天的勤奋学习上
He entrusts his dreams to diligent study every day.
More words with 靠
- jǐn紧kào靠close to, right up against
- yī依kào靠rely on, depend on
- yǐ倚kào靠lean, rely
- láo牢kào靠reliable, firm
- píng凭kào靠Rely on; depend on
- qiú求kào靠Seek support, Ask for help
- tuō托kào靠to depend on
- tuǒ妥kào靠dependable; trustworthy
- xié斜kào靠lean
- kào靠àn岸dock, berth
- kào靠pǔ谱Reliable, Trustworthy
- kě可kào靠reliable, trustworthy
- tíng停kào靠dock, moor
- kào靠chuāng窗window seat, by the window
- jǐn仅kào靠only by, solely by
- kào靠qián前near the front, earlier
- kào靠zài在lean against, rest on
- quán全kào靠depend entirely on, rely solely on
- kào靠guò过dào道aisle seat, by the aisle
- kě可kào靠xing性Reliability, Dependability
Idioms with 靠
- kào靠tiān天chī吃fàn饭live at the mercy of nature
- liù六qīn亲wú无kào靠no family or relatives to rely on
- mài卖shēn身tóu投kào靠betray principles for powerful patronage
- qiú求qīn亲kào靠yǒu友seek help from relatives and friends
- wú无yī依wú无kào靠friendless and helpless
- bīng冰shān山nán难kào靠unreliable power or support
- wú无yǐ倚wú无kào靠without anyone to rely on
- wú无kào靠wú无yī依helpless and unsupported
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Open the tool →Questions about 靠
What does 靠 mean in Chinese?
靠 (kào) means “to lean against” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 靠?
靠 is pronounced kào in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 靠 have?
靠 has 15 strokes.
How do you write 靠?
靠 is written in 15 strokes, starting from the radical 非. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 靠?
The radical of 靠 is 非, and 靠 is a phono-semantic compound.
