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柁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柁tuóthe main beam of a housezg, 9 strokes, radical 木
柁tuómain beam of roofunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
柁duòthe main beam of a housezg, 9 strokes, radical 木
柁duòmain beam of roofunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
duò(duo4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1the main beam of a house
  2. 2main beam of roof
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

柁duò(duo4)

The character 柁 (duò) refers to the main beam in a traditional Chinese building, particularly supporting the roof structure. It is commonly used in architectural contexts and represents a critical component in the stability and design of a house.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the main beam (duò) is crucial for structural integrity and is often elaborately decorated, reflecting cultural values of harmony and stability in home design.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sturdy tree ('木' - wood) supporting the roof of a house ('家' - home). The character 柁 combines the wood radical and the concept of a house, helping you remember that it means the main beam that holds up the roof.

Meanings of 柁

duò(duo4)
primary
1the main beam of a house
2main beam of roof
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 柁

柁Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柁

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Podcast: 柁

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AI Study Notes for 柁

Usage Notes

While 柁 is a specific term used in construction, it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms related to building materials or structural components. This word is more likely to appear in formal or technical discussions about architecture.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not included in the HSK levels, learners should focus on related vocabulary in construction and architecture as they progress. Understanding the radicals and components of characters can enhance recognition and recall.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柁 with similar characters like 梁 (liáng), which has a broader meaning related to beams. Remember that 柁 specifically refers to the main beam of a house.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柁

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Etymology of 柁

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

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)它
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 柁

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half它 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 柁? 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 柁?

Decomposition of 柁

IDS Structure⿰木它
柁Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
它ta1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 柁?

How to say the main beam of a house in Chinese

“the main beam of a house” in Chinese is柁tuó

The character 柁 (duò) refers to the main beam in a traditional Chinese building, particularly supporting the roof structure. It is commonly used in architectural contexts and represents a critical component in the stability and design of a house.

When to use 柁

While 柁 is a specific term used in construction, it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms related to building materials or structural components. This word is more likely to appear in formal or technical discussions about architecture.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柁 with similar characters like 梁 (liáng), which has a broader meaning related to beams. Remember that 柁 specifically refers to the main beam of a house.

Write 柁

柁

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 柁

Words Containing This Character1
柁duòmain beam of roof
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 柁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 柁

The pronunciation is 'duò', with a falling tone.

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