Definitions

táo (verb) to escape; to flee; to run away

Etymology

Originally written as , a pictograph of two people escaping a flood. The (walk) component was added later to clarify the meaning.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "逃", representing the concept of escape or flight, is constructed from the movement radical ⻌ paired with the component "兆", which serves predominantly as a phonetic element while possibly evoking an associative sense of departing from a portent or marked situation. Etymologically, it has long denoted the physical act of fleeing or withdrawing from danger, capture, or obligation, as seen in early literary uses where it often described evading responsibilities or avoiding pursuit. Throughout its historical usage, the character's fundamental meaning has persisted, though its application has gradually expanded to include more abstract notions of avoidance, such as eluding abstract threats or disengaging from undesirable circumstances, without any substantial modification to its structural form.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

兔子走了。

Tùzi táozǒu le.

The rabbit ran away.

避问题。

Tā táobì wèntí.

He avoids problems.

罪犯跑了。

Zuìfàn táopǎo le.

The criminal escaped.

小鸟从笼子里出来了。

Xiǎo niǎo cóng lóngzi lǐ táo chūlái le.

The little bird escaped from the cage.

他试图避责任。

Tā shìtú táobì zérèn.

He tried to evade responsibility.

在警察到来之前,小偷走了。

Zài jǐngchá dàolái zhīqián, xiǎotōu táozǒu le.

Before the police arrived, the thief ran away.

战争爆发后,许多人离了家乡。

Zhànzhēng bàofā hòu, xǔduō rén táolí le jiāxiāng.

After the war broke out, many people fled their hometown.

面对困难,我们不能选择避。

Miànduì kùnnan, wǒmen bù néng xuǎnzé táobì.

Facing difficulties, we cannot choose to escape.