徒

tú

彳 + 走

Definitions

tú (noun) disciple; apprentice

tú (adverb) on foot

tú (adjective) empty; in vain

tú (adverb) only; merely

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辵 represents the meaning and 土 represents the sound. 土 also represents the meaning. Based on the original meaning "go on foot". The meaning later shifted to "disciple".

About

徒 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the step radical 彳 on the left with 土 (earth) and 疋 (foot) on the right. Together, 彳 and 疋 form 辵 "walk", giving the core meaning of moving on foot, while 土 provides the sound tú and also suggests the ground underfoot. The original meaning was "go on foot", often without a vehicle. This later extended to "infantry soldier", then to "disciple" or "follower" (one who walks behind), and eventually to the adverbial sense "in vain".

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个徒弟很聪明。

Zhège túdì hěn cōngmíng.

This apprentice is very smart.

我们徒步去公园。

Wǒmen túbù qù gōngyuán.

We go to the park on foot.

他徒手打开了瓶子。

Tā túshǒu dǎkāile píngzi.

He opened the bottle bare-handed.

你的努力是徒劳的。

Nǐ de nǔlì shì túláo de.

Your effort is in vain.

他是虔诚的信徒。

Tā shì qiánchéng de xìntú.

He is a devout believer.

警察逮捕了那些暴徒。

Jǐngchá dàibǔle nàxiē bàotú.

The police arrested those rioters.

这个学徒正在学习手艺。

Zhège xuétú zhèngzài xuéxí shǒuyì.

This apprentice is learning a craft.

他的计划徒增烦恼。

Tā de jìhuà tú zēng fánnǎo.

His plan only adds to the trouble.

Related Characters

Component: 彳

Component: 走

Example Words