倒

dǎo, dào

亻 + 到

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

dào (verb) to pour; to throw out; to invert; to place upside down

dào (adverb) actually; however; contrary to expectation

dǎo (verb) to fall; to collapse; to fail

dǎo (verb) to change (transportation); to transfer

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 到 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 到

About

The character 倒 is a phono-semantic compound, with the human radical 亻 on the left indicating a human action or state, and the component 到 on the right providing its phonetic value. Its original meaning referred to a person falling over. Context and pronunciation distinguish its core senses: one involves collapsing or failing, while the other functions as a verb meaning to invert, reverse, retreat, or pour out.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他把杯子倒满了。

Tā bǎ bēizi dào mǎn le.

He filled the cup by pouring.

树被大风刮倒了。

Shù bèi dà fēng guā dǎo le.

The tree was blown down by the strong wind.

请把垃圾倒在桶里。

Qǐng bǎ lājī dào zài tǒng lǐ.

Please dump the trash into the bin.

这本书的页码印倒了。

Zhè běn shū de yèmǎ yìn dào le.

The page numbers in this book are printed upside down.

请把顺序倒过来再说一遍。

Qǐng bǎ shùnxù dào guòlai zài shuō yī biàn.

Please say it again in reverse order.

开车前一定要先倒车。

Kāichē qián yídìng yào xiān dàochē.

You must reverse the car before driving forward.

那家公司因为经营不善倒闭了。

Nà jiā gōngsī yīnwèi jīngyíng bùshàn dǎobì le.

That company went bankrupt due to poor management.

他不但没生气，倒笑了起来。

Tā bùdàn méi shēngqì, dào xiàole qǐlái.

Not only was he not angry, he actually started laughing.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 到

倒