叨

dāo, tāo

刀 + 口

Definitions

tāo (verb) to receive; to benefit from

dāo (adjective) garrulous; talkative

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 刀 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 刀

About

The character 叨 is a phono-semantic compound made up of 口 (kǒu, "mouth") on the left and 刀 (dāo, "knife") on the right. 口 signals the character's primary link to speech, vocalization, and mouth-related actions. 刀 functions entirely as a phonetic component, supplying the pronunciation without implying any cutting or sharp-edged meaning. When pronounced dāo, it refers to someone who is overly talkative, chattering constantly, or nagging about minor things. When pronounced tāo, it shifts to a formal, polite usage to humbly express gratitude for receiving a favor, benefit, or generous treatment.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他总爱唠叨个不停。

tā zǒng ài láodao gè bù tíng.

He always loves to chatter non-stop.

你别再叨叨那件事了。

nǐ bié zài dāodao nà jiàn shì le.

Stop harping on that matter.

她又在唠叨孩子的学习。

tā yòu zài láodao háizi de xuéxí.

She's nagging about the child's studies again.

我实在受不了他的唠叨。

wǒ shízài shòu bù liǎo tā de láodao.

I really can't stand his nagging.

抱歉，我又来叨扰您了。

bàoqiàn, wǒ yòu lái dāorǎo nín le.

Sorry to bother you again.

他絮絮叨叨地说个没完。

tā xùxùdāodāo de shuō gè méi wán.

He kept rambling on and on without end.

今日叨光，品尝了您的厨艺。

jīnrì dāoguāng, pǐncháng le nín de chúyì.

Today I was honored to taste your cooking.

承蒙指点，叨教不少，十分感谢。

chéngméng zhǐdiǎn, dāojiào bù shǎo, shífēn gǎnxiè.

I've learned a lot thanks to your guidance, and I'm very grateful.

Related Characters

Component: 刀

Component: 口

叨