Meaning
焦 primarily means 'burnt' or 'scorched,' describing something overcooked or charred. It extends metaphorically to describe emotional states of anxiety or worry, as if one's heart is 'burning' with concern. The character appears in many common compound words related to both literal burning and emotional distress.
Usage
In everyday speech, 焦 often appears in compounds rather than alone. When describing food, it means charred or burnt (烧焦, 焦了). When describing emotions, it conveys deep worry or anxiety (焦急, 焦虑). The standalone character is more common in written Chinese; spoken Chinese typically uses compound forms.
Examples
- 01锅里的菜都烧焦了。.The food in the pot is all burnt.
- 02她急得像热锅上的蚂蚁，心里很焦。, .She's as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, very worried in her heart.
Common collocations
- 烧焦to burn, to scorch
- 焦点focus, focal point
- 焦急万分extremely anxious
- 心焦anxious, worried
Antonyms
Origin
The character 焦 depicts fire (火) underneath a bird (隹), suggesting the image of something being roasted or burnt over flames. This pictographic origin connects to both its literal meaning of being charred and its metaphorical extension to burning anxiety.