somewhat, slightly, at least

JLPT N5 11 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage of (liáo)

The character is commonly used as a verb meaning "to chat" or "to talk casually." It often appears in informal contexts where people engage in light conversation. For example, 聊天 (liáo tiān) means "to chat."

Additionally, can function as an adverb meaning "a little" or "somewhat," often to express a small degree or a brief moment, as in (liáo shèng yú wú), meaning "better than nothing."

Common Collocations

  • 聊天 (liáo tiān): to chat casually
  • (liáo liáo): to have a short talk
  • : better than nothing, at least some communication

Notes

When using as a verb, it usually implies informal, friendly conversation rather than formal discussion. It is often paired with other words like (sky/day) to form 聊天, which is very common in daily speech.

Avoid confusing with 聊天 (chat room), which is a noun referring to an online chat space, not the act of chatting itself.

In summary, is a versatile word useful for expressing casual talking or indicating a small amount or brief time.

Example Sentences

We chatted a lot about travel.

I want to have a little talk with you about the recent work situation.

Better to chat than nothing; at least we communicated.