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挞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
挞tàto whip, to flog, to chastiseg, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33308, Very Hard
挞tàflogunknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33308, Very Hard
挞tàrapidunknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #33308, Very Hard
tà(ta4)ta T4
  1. 1to whip, to flog, to chastise
  2. 2flog
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March 24, 2026

挞(撻)tà(ta4)

The character 挞 (tà) denotes the action of whipping or flogging, often implying a harsh or corrective measure. It can also refer to a rapid or swift movement, emphasizing speed in a physical context. This word is commonly used in discussions about discipline or punishment.

Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#33308DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, physical punishment was historically used as a disciplinary measure, especially in schools and military settings. Although this practice has largely diminished, the character still reflects the historical attitudes towards authority and discipline.

Memory tip

Imagine a teacher who uses a whip to maintain discipline in the classroom. The character 挞 has the hand radical 扌 on the left, which represents action, and the right side resembles a whip in motion. Picture the teacher swinging the whip quickly to enforce rules, connecting 'tà' (to whip) with rapid action.

Meanings of 挞

tà(ta4)
1to whip, to flog, to chastise
2flog
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 挞

挞Simplified
撻Traditional
9Strokes
扌Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 挞

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AI study notes for 挞

Quick Contrast

打 (dǎ, to hit) vs 挞 (tà, to whip) — use 挞 when emphasizing a specific form of punishment or whipping, rather than general hitting.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 挞, as it carries a strong, often negative connotation related to punishment. It's more common in literary or formal contexts rather than in casual conversation. Misusing it in a light-hearted context may lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 挞 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to punishment or correction, such as 罚 (fá, to punish) and 打 (dǎ, to hit). Focus on the nuances of severity and context when learning this character.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 挞 with 打 (dǎ), which means 'to hit' but is more commonly used in informal contexts. Ensure you understand the severity difference; for instance, saying '我会挞你' (I will whip you) is much harsher than '我会打你' (I will hit you).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 挞

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Etymology of 挞

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 达 represents the sound. Simplified form of 撻.

Memory hint

hand

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

Origin

挞 = 扌 + 达. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 挞

IDS Structure⿰扌达
挞Full character
=
扌shou3
left
达Da2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 挞?

How to say to whip, to flog, to chastise in Chinese

“to whip, to flog, to chastise” in Chinese is挞tà

The character 挞 (tà) denotes the action of whipping or flogging, often implying a harsh or corrective measure. It can also refer to a rapid or swift movement, emphasizing speed in a physical context. This word is commonly used in discussions about discipline or punishment.

When to use 挞

Be cautious when using 挞, as it carries a strong, often negative connotation related to punishment. It's more common in literary or formal contexts rather than in casual conversation. Misusing it in a light-hearted context may lead to misunderstandings.

挞 or something close to it

打 (dǎ, to hit) vs 挞 (tà, to whip) — use 挞 when emphasizing a specific form of punishment or whipping, rather than general hitting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 挞 with 打 (dǎ), which means 'to hit' but is more commonly used in informal contexts. Ensure you understand the severity difference; for instance, saying '我会挞你' (I will whip you) is much harsher than '我会打你' (I will hit you).

Write 挞

挞

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

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Word Family of 挞

Words containing this character3
挞tàflog撻
鞭挞to lash鞭撻
大张挞伐to roundly condemn大張撻伐
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 挞

What does 鞭挞 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 挞

Yes, but it's more common in literature or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation.

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