照 zhào
“according to; in accordance with; to shine”
verb, preposition, adverb2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
照 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 970: 照 zhào — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动). PDF page 104
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 照
照 (zhào) can be a verb meaning 'to shine on', 'to look at one's reflection', or 'to photograph'; common patterns are 阳光照在…上, 照镜子, and separable 照相 (照一张相/照张相). It is also a preposition meaning 'according to / in accordance with', as in 照这个办法做. For the 'shine' meaning, it is often used with 在 plus a place (照在墙上) or with 着 before the thing illuminated (照着我).
例句Example sentences
- 下午的阳光照在书桌上，很暖和。xià wǔ de yáng guāng zhào zài shū zhuō shàng, hěn nuǎn huo.The afternoon sunlight shines on the desk, and it is warm.
- 她出门前照了照镜子。tā chū mén qián zhào le zhào jìng zi.She looked in the mirror before going out.
- 请帮我在这棵树下照一张相。qǐng bāng wǒ zài zhè kē shù xià zhào yì zhāng xiāng.Please help me take a photo under this tree.
易混词Easily confused
照vs拍
Both 照相 and 拍照 mean 'take a photo'. 照 is the verb in 照相 (照张相) and also means 'shine' or 'reflect'; 拍 is used in 拍照/拍照片 and does not have those meanings.
义项All meanings
- zhào: variant of 照; to shine; to illuminate
- zhào: according to; in accordance with; to shine; to illuminate; to reflect; to look at (one's reflection)