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March 24, 2026
嘟dū(du1)
The character 嘟 (dū) primarily represents the sound made by a horn, such as a car horn or a trumpet. It can also be used to describe the action of pouting, as in the expression of displeasure. This character is often used in informal contexts, especially when mimicking sounds.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#10980DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sound symbolism is significant, and characters like 嘟 are used in children's language and playful contexts, reflecting the importance of sounds in communication. The concept of mimicking sounds is often found in Chinese poetry and storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cartoon character with big cheeks, puffing up and making a 'toot' sound as they pout. The shape of the character 嘟 resembles a round face (the two dots) with a mouth making a sound. Think of the 'd' in dū as the start of 'driving' where you hear a horn honking.
Meanings of 嘟
dū(du1)
1the sound of a horn tooting
2toot
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嘟
嘟Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘟
Podcast: 嘟
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AI Study Notes for 嘟
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cartoon character with big cheeks, puffing up and making a 'toot' sound as they pout. The shape of the character 嘟 resembles a round face (the two dots) with a mouth making a sound. Think of the 'd' in dū as the start of 'driving' where you hear a horn honking.
Usage Notes
嘟 is generally used in informal speech and may not be suitable for formal writing. A common mistake is using it in a serious context where a more formal term for sound might be appropriate. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a high level tone (dū).
HSK Study Tips
While 嘟 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to words in HSK levels that describe sounds or actions. Focus on the onomatopoeic aspect of the word, which can help learners understand other similar terms in conversational Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sound symbolism is significant, and characters like 嘟 are used in children's language and playful contexts, reflecting the importance of sounds in communication. The concept of mimicking sounds is often found in Chinese poetry and storytelling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘟 with other sound-related characters and may use it in more formal contexts, such as in writing. For example, saying '我想嘟这个' (I want to toot this) in a formal meeting is inappropriate; instead, use a more formal expression for the action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘟
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Grammar Patterns of 嘟
嘟 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
汽船向我们____嘟鸣笛时，甲板上的水手们饶有趣味地挥着手。
Steamers tooted at us as sailors on deck waved in amusement.
Steamers tooted at us as sailors on deck waved in amusement.
2
骑车人危险地在车流中飞速穿行时，汽车喇叭的嘟嘟声响成一片。
qí chē rén wēi xiǎn dì zài chē liú zhōng fēi sù chuān háng shí， ， qì chē lǎ bā de dū dū shēng xiǎng chéng yī。
Car horns toot as cyclists dart precariously through the traffic.
3
她的脸已经不再肉嘟嘟的了。
tā de liǎn yǐ jīng bù zài ròu dū dū de le。
Her face had already lost its puppy-fat.
4
他端起一碗水,咕嘟咕嘟地喝了下去.
tā duān qǐ yī wǎn shuǐ, , gū dū gū dū dì hē le xià.
He took up a bowl of water and gulped it down.
5
阿尔奇嘟嚷了几声,又往地上啐了一口唾沫.
ā ěr qí dū rǎng le jī shēng, , yòu wǎng dì shàng cuì le yī kǒu tuò.
Archie grunted and spat on the floor.
6
我们所能听到的只是一些模糊不清的劈啪声, 咕嘟声和嘶嘶声.
wǒ mén suǒ néng tīng dào de zhī shì yī xiē mó hū bù qīng de pī pā shēng, , gū dū shēng hé sī sī.
All we can hear is an indistinct crackling, bubbling and hissing.
Cultural Notes for 嘟
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sound symbolism is significant, and characters like 嘟 are used in children's language and playful contexts, reflecting the importance of sounds in communication. The concept of mimicking sounds is often found in Chinese poetry and storytelling.
Word Family of 嘟
Words Containing This Character6
嘟dūtoot
嘟囔to mumble to oneself
胖嘟嘟plump
嘟哝to mutter嘟噥
肉嘟嘟chubby
嘟噜bunch嘟嚕
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嘟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘟
You would use 嘟 when describing the sound of a horn or when playfully describing someone pouting.
嘟 is informal and typically used in casual conversations.
You pronounce it with a high, level tone, like 'doo'.
