Definitions

dào cover over; to envelope
tāo used in given names

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 寿 represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic: 寿

About

combines the fire radical (meaning) and the phonetic 寿 (sound), forming a phono-semantic compound. It is the simplified version of , where the traditional phonetic sits above . The original meaning centered on covering, enveloping, or casting a shadow, with the fire element implying an ancient context of warmth, sunlight, or shelter. In modern Chinese, appears almost exclusively in personal names rather than in everyday vocabulary.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是我的同学。

Zhāng Tāo shì wǒ de tóngxué.

Zhang Tao is my classmate.

写了一本书。

Lǐ Tāo xiě le yī běn shū.

Li Tao wrote a book.

喜欢打篮球。

Wáng Tāo xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.

Wang Tao likes playing basketball.

在历史上,张是个著名人物。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, Zhāng Tāo shì gè zhùmíng rénwù.

In history, Zhang Tao is a famous figure.

育下一代是重要的。

Tāo yù xià yīdài shì zhòngyào de.

Nurturing the next generation is important.

育计划旨在培养青少年。

Tāo yù jìhuà zhǐ zài péiyǎng qīngshàonián.

The nurturing plan aims to cultivate teenagers.

这座建筑盖着整个广场。

Zhè zuò jiànzhù tāo gài zhe zhěnggè guǎngchǎng.

This building covers the entire square.

他的恩泽被万物。

Tā de ēnzé tāo bèi wànwù.

His kindness covers all things.