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March 24, 2026
滔tāo(tao1)
The character 滔 (tāo) means to overflow or to rush with great force, often used to describe torrents of water or a flood. It can also be applied metaphorically to express emotions or situations that are overwhelming or abundant. Common contexts include descriptions of rivers or heavy rain.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#29329DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and poetry, the imagery of torrents and overflowing waters often symbolizes strong emotions or the passage of time, reflecting the deep connection between nature and human experience in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant wave (the radical 水, which means water) crashing over a dam, representing the concept of overflow. The pronunciation 'tāo' sounds like 'towel,' which you would need if you got drenched by a sudden downpour or torrent!
Meanings of 滔
tāo(tao1)
1overflow
2torrent-dash
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 滔 means.
About 滔
滔Simplified
13Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#29329Frequency Rank
Podcast: 滔
Podcast: 滔
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AI Study Notes for 滔
Quick Contrast
滔 (tāo) vs 泛 (fàn): Use 滔 for a strong, forceful overflow, while 泛 describes a gentler, more widespread surface flow.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 滔 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo), which means to escape. 滔 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or news reports about natural disasters. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '潮' (tide).
HSK Study Tips
Although 滔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to words at HSK level 3 and above that describe weather and nature, such as 雨 (yǔ, rain) or 洪水 (hóngshuǐ, flood). Focus on its usage in literary contexts to enhance vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滔 with 逃 (táo), leading to sentences like '我想滔出这个地方' (I want to overflow out of this place) instead of '我想逃出这个地方' (I want to escape from this place). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滔
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How Well Do You Know 滔?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 滔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
滔 = 氵 + 舀. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 滔
IDS Structure⿰氵舀
滔Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
舀yao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 滔?
How to say overflow in Chinese
“overflow” in Chinese is滔tāo
The character 滔 (tāo) means to overflow or to rush with great force, often used to describe torrents of water or a flood. It can also be applied metaphorically to express emotions or situations that are overwhelming or abundant. Common contexts include descriptions of rivers or heavy rain.
When to use 滔
Be careful not to confuse 滔 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo), which means to escape. 滔 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or news reports about natural disasters. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '潮' (tide).
滔 or something close to it
滔 (tāo) vs 泛 (fàn): Use 滔 for a strong, forceful overflow, while 泛 describes a gentler, more widespread surface flow.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 滔 with 逃 (táo), leading to sentences like '我想滔出这个地方' (I want to overflow out of this place) instead of '我想逃出这个地方' (I want to escape from this place). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.
Write 滔
滔
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Practice writing 滔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 滔
滔 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他犯下的____天罪行给她的生活蒙上了永久的阴影。
Her life has been per-manently blighted by his heinous crime.
Example Sentences for 滔 (10)
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1
他犯下的滔天罪行给她的生活蒙上了永久的阴影。
tā fàn xià de tāo tiān zuì háng gěi tā de shēng huó mēng shàng le yǒng jiǔ de yīn yǐng。
Her life has been per-manently blighted by his heinous crime.
