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橐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
橐tuóbag, sack; a hollow tub open at both endso, 16 strokes, radical 木
橐tuótube open at both endsunknown, 16 strokes, radical 木
橐tuó(onom.) footstepsunknown, 16 strokes, radical 木
tuó(tuo2) T2
  1. 1bag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends
  2. 2tube open at both ends
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March 24, 2026

橐tuó(tuo2)

The character 橐 (tuó) primarily refers to a bag or sack, often used for carrying items. It can also denote a hollow tube that is open at both ends. While less common in everyday conversation, it is often encountered in literary or historical contexts.

Strokes16Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, bags and sacks like 橐 were vital for carrying goods during trade, reflecting the importance of commerce in Chinese history. The character may also be found in ancient texts that discuss transportation or agriculture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bag (橐) that is open on both ends, like a tube. The shape of the character resembles a sack with handles, and you can remember the pronunciation 'tuó' by thinking of a 'tote' bag that you 'tow' behind you.

Meanings of 橐

tuó(tuo2)
1bag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends
2tube open at both ends
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 橐

橐Simplified
16Strokes
木Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 橐

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Podcast: 橐

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AI Study Notes for 橐

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 橐 with similar characters that represent different kinds of containers. This character is more formal and might not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 橐包 (tuóbāo) for 'sack bag.'

HSK Study Tips

This character is not included in the HSK levels, making it less common for beginners. However, students should focus on its components and pronunciation as it may appear in literary texts or advanced vocabulary discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 橐 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation. For example, saying 'luó' instead of 'tuó' can change the meaning entirely. Always remember the initial 't' sound.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 橐

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Etymology of 橐

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 橐

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

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Decomposition of 橐

IDS Structure⿱？⿱冖⿱石木
橐Full Character
=
冖mi4
top
石dan4
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 橐?

How to say bag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends in Chinese

“bag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends” in Chinese is橐tuó

The character 橐 (tuó) primarily refers to a bag or sack, often used for carrying items. It can also denote a hollow tube that is open at both ends. While less common in everyday conversation, it is often encountered in literary or historical contexts.

When to use 橐

Be careful not to confuse 橐 with similar characters that represent different kinds of containers. This character is more formal and might not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 橐包 (tuóbāo) for 'sack bag.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 橐 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation. For example, saying 'luó' instead of 'tuó' can change the meaning entirely. Always remember the initial 't' sound.

Write 橐

橐

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

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Word Family of 橐

Words Containing This Character2
橐tuósack
橐橐(onom.) footsteps
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 橐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 橐

It is mainly used to refer to sacks or bags, particularly in historical or literary contexts.

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