Definitions

duò helm; rudder

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 舵, denoting a rudder or helm, structurally combines the semantic component 舟, meaning boat, with the phonetic component 它, a pairing that explicitly links it to nautical steering mechanisms. Its etymology points to an earlier variant that incorporated a wood radical, emphasizing the material traditionally used for rudders, but the shift to the boat radical more precisely anchored its function to watercraft. Over time, while its graphical form settled on the boat radical, its core meaning has remained steadfastly associated with the device used to steer vessels, and it has also extended metaphorically to denote guidance or control in broader contexts.

Example Sentences Hide

水手调整了

Shuǐshǒu tiáozhěng le duò.

The sailor adjusted the rudder.

的方向很重要。

Duò de fāngxiàng hěn zhòngyào.

The direction of the rudder is very important.

他学习如何操作

Tā xuéxí rúhé cāozuò duò.

He is learning how to operate the rudder.

手稳稳地握着盘。

Duòshǒu wěn wěn de wò zhe duòpán.

The helmsman steadily holds the steering wheel.

在风暴中,必须保持稳定。

Zài fēngbào zhōng, duò bìxū bǎochí wěndìng.

During the storm, the rudder must remain stable.

飞行员谨慎地调整方向

Fēixíngyuán jǐnshèn de tiáozhěng fāngxiàngduò.

The pilot carefully adjusts the rudder.

现代船舶通常使用电子系统。

Xiàndài chuánbó tōngcháng shǐyòng diànzǐ duò xìtǒng.

Modern ships usually use electronic rudder systems.

由于机故障,船只不得不返港维修。

Yóuyú duòjī gùzhàng, chuánzhī bùdebù fǎngǎng wéixiū.

Due to rudder mechanism failure, the ship had to return to port for repair.