Definitions

duǒ (classifier) classifier for flowers; clouds
duǒ (noun) flower
duǒ (noun) earlobe

Etymology

Embellishment of the character (grain), with a distinguishing short stroke on the ear of the millet plant to indicate the drooping ear. Based on the original meaning "drooping ear of a grain". The meaning later shifted to "flower" and "earlobe".

About

originally depicted a grain plant with a drooping ear, formed by adding a distinguishing stroke to (grain). The character later came to mean flower or blossom, and by extension, anything that hangs in a clustered form like a blossom or ear. It is now commonly used as a measure word for flowers, clouds, and similar shapes, and also refers to the earlobe due to its pendulous, blossom-like appearance.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一红花。

Zhè shì yì duǒ hóng huā.

This is a red flower.

她摘了一花。

Tā zhāi le yì duǒ huā.

She picked a flower.

天上有一白云。

Tiān shàng yǒu yì duǒ bái yún.

There is a white cloud in the sky.

这些花很美丽。

Zhèxiē huāduǒ hěn měilì.

These flowers are very beautiful.

每一云都有不同的形状。

Měi yì duǒ yún dōu yǒu bùtóng de xíngzhuàng.

Every cloud has a different shape.

他轻轻地拿起那玫瑰。

Tā qīngqīng de ná qǐ nà duǒ méiguī.

He gently picked up that rose.

我看到一花,但它已经枯萎了。

Wǒ kàn dào yì duǒ huā, dàn tā yǐjīng kūwěi le.

I saw a flower, but it has already withered.

在春天的花园里,无数鲜花竞相开放。

Zài chūntiān de huāyuán lǐ, wúshù duǒ xiānhuā jìngxiāng kāifàng.

In the spring garden, countless flowers bloom in competition.