unknown, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17451, Very Hard
tāo(tao1) T1
1big wave
2Taiwan pr. [táo]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
涛(濤)tāo(tao1)
涛 (tāo) refers to large waves, often used in the context of the sea or ocean. It can symbolize power and majesty, and is commonly found in literary and poetic expressions to evoke imagery of nature's force. The character is frequently used in phrases related to water, waves, and sometimes metaphorically to describe tumultuous situations.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#17451DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, '涛' often symbolizes the vastness and unpredictability of nature, reflecting traditional beliefs about the power of water. It is also used in phrases describing emotional turbulence, linking natural phenomena to human experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'tāo' (涛) crashing on the shore, sending sprays of water everywhere. The character consists of the water radical 氵, suggesting its connection to waves, and combining it with '涛' evokes the image of powerful ocean waves. Picture yourself surfing on these massive waves to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 涛
tāo(tao1)
1big wave
2Taiwan pr. [táo]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 涛
涛Simplified
濤Traditional
10Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#17451Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涛
Podcast: 涛
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 涛
Usage Notes
When using '涛', be mindful of its formal and poetic connotations, as it may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '逃' (escape) which has a different meaning. Common collocations include '海涛' (ocean waves) and '波涛' (billows).
HSK Study Tips
While '涛' is not strictly an HSK level word, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to nature and water. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literature and poetry, which often appears alongside other nature-related words. Understanding its context will enhance comprehension of descriptive language.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '涛' with '涛' (táo), mispronouncing it with the wrong tone. For example, saying 'táo' instead of 'tāo' can lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, using '涛' in casual conversations may sound overly formal or poetic.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涛
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 涛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 寿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 濤.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half寿 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 涛? 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 涛?
Decomposition of 涛
IDS Structure⿰氵寿
涛Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
寿Shou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 涛?
How to say big wave in Chinese
“big wave” in Chinese is涛tāo
涛 (tāo) refers to large waves, often used in the context of the sea or ocean. It can symbolize power and majesty, and is commonly found in literary and poetic expressions to evoke imagery of nature's force. The character is frequently used in phrases related to water, waves, and sometimes metaphorically to describe tumultuous situations.
When to use 涛
When using '涛', be mindful of its formal and poetic connotations, as it may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '逃' (escape) which has a different meaning. Common collocations include '海涛' (ocean waves) and '波涛' (billows).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '涛' with '涛' (táo), mispronouncing it with the wrong tone. For example, saying 'táo' instead of 'tāo' can lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, using '涛' in casual conversations may sound overly formal or poetic.
Write 涛
涛
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 涛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 涛
涛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
有时海上波____汹涌，她就会晕船。
It was quite rough at times, and she was seasick.
Example Sentences for 涛 (8)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
有时海上波涛汹涌，她就会晕船。
yǒu shí hǎi shàng bō tāo xiōng yǒng， ， tā jiù huì yùn。
