超 (chāo) is a Chinese character meaning “to exceed”. It is written from 走 (to walk; to go) and 召 (to summon; to call together), one enclosing the other, and takes 12 strokes.
Build the character for “to exceed; super-”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
走 + 召
Enclosing structure
Structure from: 说文解字：超，跳也。从走召声。IDS 拆分 ⿺走召，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–6 为「走」，笔画 7–11 为「召」（刀 + 口）
Memory aid
Someone is summoned (召) and sets off walking (走) so fast they pass everyone else. Both parts really are in this character: 走 stretches underneath and carries 召 along — 超, to go beyond.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
12 strokes
In real words
- 超市chāo shìsupermarket超 = chāo
- 超越chāo yuèto surpass; to exceed; to transcend超 = chāo
Go deeper
All readings
to exceed; super-
to exceed; to surpass; to overtake; beyond; super-, ultra-
越过、胜过；超出一般的程度或范围。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 超市chāo shìsupermarket超 = chāo
- 超越chāo yuèto surpass; to exceed; to transcend超 = chāo
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 超 mean?
超 (chāo) means to exceed; to surpass; to overtake; beyond; super-, ultra-.
How do you pronounce 超?
It is pronounced chāo.
What parts is 超 made of?
走 (to walk; to go) and 召 (to summon; to call together), one enclosing the other. The recorded source is: 说文解字：超，跳也。从走召声。IDS 拆分 ⿺走召，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–6 为「走」，笔画 7–11 为「召」（刀 + 口）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 超 have?
12. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 超?
走. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 超?
Common ones are 超市 and 超越. The reading of 超 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.