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悼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
悼dàoto mournzg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #31988, Very Hard
悼dàoto lamentzg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #31988, Very Hard
悼dàoto grieve, to lament, to mournzg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #31988, Very Hard
dào(dao4)dao T4
  1. 1to mourn
  2. 2to lament
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March 24, 2026

悼dào(dao4)

The character 悼 (dào) means to mourn or lament, typically in the context of expressing sorrow over someone's death or a significant loss. It is often used in formal contexts, such as memorial services or literature, to convey deep feelings of grief and reflection.

Strokes11Radical忄Frequency#31988DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mourning rituals are significant, often involving specific practices and expressions of grief. The character 悼 is commonly seen in literature and during ceremonies, highlighting the importance of honoring the deceased.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sorrowful figure (the character 悼) holding a heart (the radical 心) while crying over a grave (the left component). The heart represents the deep feelings of mourning, and the character's pronunciation 'dào' can be remembered as the sound of someone sighing in grief.

Meanings of 悼

dào(dao4)
1to mourn
2to lament
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 悼 means.

About 悼

悼Simplified
11Strokes
忄Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#31988Frequency Rank

Podcast: 悼

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Podcast: 悼

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AI Study Notes for 悼

Quick Contrast

哀 (āi) - use 悼 (dào) specifically for formal mourning, whereas 哀 (āi) can express sorrow more broadly.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal and literary contexts, so it's important to avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 悼念 (dàoniàn, to mourn) and 悼词 (dàocí, eulogy). Be mindful of the tone; the fourth tone (dào) can sometimes be confused with other tones in rapid speech.

HSK Study Tips

While 悼 is not included in the HSK levels, it shares thematic connections with words related to emotions and loss found in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on understanding the emotional weight of this term in contrast to lighter expressions of sadness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 悼 with similar words like 哀 (āi) which also means to grieve but can be used in different contexts. For example, saying '我哀他的死' (Wǒ āi tā de sǐ) instead of '我悼念他的死' (Wǒ dàoniàn tā de sǐ) can sound awkward.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 悼

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Etymology of 悼

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 卓 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)忄
+
Phonetic (sound)卓
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

悼 = 忄 + 卓. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 悼

IDS Structure⿰忄卓
悼Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
卓Zhuo2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 悼?

How to say to mourn in Chinese

“to mourn” in Chinese is悼dào

The character 悼 (dào) means to mourn or lament, typically in the context of expressing sorrow over someone's death or a significant loss. It is often used in formal contexts, such as memorial services or literature, to convey deep feelings of grief and reflection.

When to use 悼

This character is often used in formal and literary contexts, so it's important to avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 悼念 (dàoniàn, to mourn) and 悼词 (dàocí, eulogy). Be mindful of the tone; the fourth tone (dào) can sometimes be confused with other tones in rapid speech.

悼 or something close to it

哀 (āi) - use 悼 (dào) specifically for formal mourning, whereas 哀 (āi) can express sorrow more broadly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 悼 with similar words like 哀 (āi) which also means to grieve but can be used in different contexts. For example, saying '我哀他的死' (Wǒ āi tā de sǐ) instead of '我悼念他的死' (Wǒ dàoniàn tā de sǐ) can sound awkward.

Write 悼

悼

Practice writing 悼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 悼

悼 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

有15,000多人参加了____念仪式。

More than fifteen thousand people took part in the memorial service.

Example Sentences for 悼 (3)

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1
有15,000多人参加了悼念仪式。

yǒu15,000 15,000 duō rén cān jiā le dào niàn yí。

More than fifteen thousand people took part in the memorial service.
2
这不是在开追悼会,而是在颂扬他的一生。

zhè bù shì zài kāi zhuī dào huì, , ér shì zài sòng yáng tā de yī。

This was not a memorial service but a celebration of his life.
3
在长达一小时的悼念仪式结束后,他的遗体被抬到了城南的一所公墓。

zài cháng dá yī xiǎo shí de dào niàn yí shì jié shù hòu, , tā de yí tǐ bèi tái dào le chéng nán de yī suǒ gōng。

After the hour-long service, his body was taken to a cemetery in the south of the city.

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Word Family of 悼

Words Containing This Character9
哀悼mourning
悼念dàoniànto grieve
追悼会zhuīdàohuìa memorial service追悼會
追悼zhuīdàoto mourn
悼dàoto mourn
悼词eulogy悼詞
悼辞eulogy悼辭
悲悼mourn
伤悼to mourn傷悼
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 悼

What does 哀悼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 悼

You can use it like this: 我为他的离世感到悼念 (Wǒ wèi tā de líshì gǎndào dàoniàn) meaning 'I mourn his passing.'

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