讨

討

tǎo

寸 + 讠

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

tǎo (verb) to ask for; to request

tǎo (verb) to discuss; to study

tǎo (verb) to denounce; to condemn

tǎo (verb) to provoke

Etymology

Simplified form of 討. Depicts using speech (言) and one's hands (寸) to manage or govern. The meaning later shifted to "discuss" and "ask for".

About

The character 讨 (tǎo) is a phono-semantic compound, simplified from 討. It combines the speech radical 讠 (yán), indicating an action related to words or communication, with the phonetic component 寸 (cùn). Originally, 讨 had a strong military sense: to verbally denounce someone before launching a punitive expedition. Over time, its meaning softened to more common interpersonal actions like demanding, asking for, or debating a topic.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我讨厌下雨天。

Wǒ tǎoyàn xià yǔ tiān.

I dislike rainy days.

大家一起讨论计划。

Dàjiā yīqǐ tǎolùn jìhuà.

Everyone discusses the plan together.

我想向你讨教一下。

Wǒ xiǎng xiàng nǐ tǎojiào yīxià.

I want to ask you for advice.

他总是讨好老板。

Tā zǒngshì tǎohǎo lǎobǎn.

He always curries favor with the boss.

公司派人去讨债。

Gōngsī pài rén qù tǎozhài.

The company sends people to demand debt repayment.

在市场讨价还价很正常。

Zài shìchǎng tǎo jià huán jià hěn zhèngcháng.

Bargaining in the market is very normal.

古代国王经常讨伐邻国。

Gǔdài guówáng jīngcháng tǎofá lín guó.

Ancient kings often launched punitive expeditions against neighboring countries.

那个乞丐在街上乞讨食物。

Nàgè qǐgài zài jiē shàng qǐtǎo shíwù.

That beggar is begging for food on the street.

Related Characters

Component: 寸

Component: 讠

讨