unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #10980, Very Hard
嘟
dū
honk
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #10980, Very Hard
嘟
dū
to pout
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #10980, Very Hard
dū(du1) T1
1the sound of a horn tooting
2toot
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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#10980DifficultyVery Hard
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
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.
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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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 都 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half都 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 嘟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 嘟?
Decomposition of 嘟
IDS Structure⿰口都
嘟Full Character
=
口kou3
left
都dou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 嘟?
How to say the sound of a horn tooting in Chinese
“the sound of a horn tooting” in Chinese is嘟dū
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.
When to use 嘟
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).
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 嘟
嘟
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Practice writing 嘟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
