驕

jiāo

spirited horse; haughty, arrogant

Meaning

  • Concrete (Equine): A horse that is spirited or headstrong; specifically one that resists the bit and rider ("unmanageable").
  • Metaphorical (Human): Hubris or haughtiness. Refers to an overestimation of one's own power or status, often denoting the specific arrogance that precedes a reversal of fortune or defeat.

Grammar and usage

  • Functions as an adjective or stative verb ("to be arrogant").
  • Can function as a noun referring to the quality of hubris itself.

Distinctions

  • vs. 傲 (ào): While often paired, 傲 typically emphasizes the outward expression of disdain or aloofness, whereas 驕 describes the internal state of overconfidence or an unruly spirit.
  • vs. 嬌 (jiāo): Both share a phonetic root and overlap in the sense of being "spoiled." However, 驕 leans toward power and defiance, while 嬌 leans toward delicacy, coquettishness, or vulnerability.

History and forms

  • Simplified variant: U+9A84.

Graphical notes

  • Composed of 馬 (horse) and 喬 (height/loftiness), underscoring the sense of an unmanageable spirit combined with a perceived elevation over others.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.