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March 24, 2026
橢tuǒ(tuo3)
The character 橢 (tuǒ) refers to something that is elliptical or oval-shaped, often used in contexts such as geometry, design, and physical descriptions. It can also describe objects or structures that are tubular in form. This character conveys a sense of roundedness and smooth contours.
Strokes15Radical木Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the shape of objects often carries symbolic meanings. For instance, round shapes are associated with unity and completeness, while oval shapes might suggest dynamism and flexibility, which can be significant in design and feng shui.
Memory Tip
Imagine an oval-shaped table, which is reminiscent of the character 橢. The outer structure of the table resembles the curves in the character, and you can think of the table being 'tall' at the sides, similar to how the character stands upright.
Meanings of 橢
tuǒ(tuo3)
1elliptical, oval-shaped; tubular
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 橢
橢Simplified
15Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 橢
Podcast: 橢
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AI Study Notes for 橢
Quick Contrast
椭 (tuǒ) vs 圆 (yuán): Use 橢 for elliptical shapes, while 圆 refers specifically to circular shapes.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an oval-shaped table, which is reminiscent of the character 橢. The outer structure of the table resembles the curves in the character, and you can think of the table being 'tall' at the sides, similar to how the character stands upright.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 橢 (tuǒ) with similar characters like 圆 (yuán), which means 'round.' This word is more formal and often appears in technical contexts, so ensure to use it appropriately in discussions about shapes or architecture.
HSK Study Tips
While 橢 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of descriptive adjectives. Focus on similar shape-related words like 圆 (round) and 方 (square) to build your vocabulary around geometry.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the shape of objects often carries symbolic meanings. For instance, round shapes are associated with unity and completeness, while oval shapes might suggest dynamism and flexibility, which can be significant in design and feng shui.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 橢 (tuǒ) with other shape-related characters like 圆 (yuán) or 方 (fāng). For example, saying '这是一个圆的桌子' (zhè shì yīgè yuán de zhuōzi) when trying to describe an elliptical table would be incorrect; it should be '这是一个橢的桌子.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 橢
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Cultural Notes for 橢
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the shape of objects often carries symbolic meanings. For instance, round shapes are associated with unity and completeness, while oval shapes might suggest dynamism and flexibility, which can be significant in design and feng shui.
Word Family of 橢
Words Containing This Character4
椭圆tuǒyuánoval橢圓
椭圆形oval橢圓形
椭tuǒellipse橢
椭球ellipsoid (math)橢球
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 椭圆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 橢
The pinyin pronunciation is 'tuǒ,' with a falling tone on the 'ǒ'.
Yes, it can also refer to tubular structures, such as pipes or certain types of furniture.
It is often used in technical descriptions, such as 橢形 (tuǒxíng) for 'elliptical shape.'
