Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
玳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
玳dàitortoise shelln, 9 strokes, radical 王
玳dàiturtleunknown, 9 strokes, radical 王
dài(dai4)dai T4
  1. 1tortoise shell
  2. 2turtle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

玳dài(dai4)

The character 玳 (dài) refers specifically to tortoise shell, a material traditionally used in crafting decorative items and jewelry. It is often associated with the concept of longevity and stability, given the tortoise's symbolism in Chinese culture. The usage is more common in historical or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Strokes9Radical王
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, tortoise shells were not only valued for their beauty but were also used in divination and medicine, highlighting their multifaceted importance in ancient society. These shells symbolize wisdom and longevity, often featured in myths and folklore.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tortoise wearing a shiny shell that glimmers like jade. The character 玳 is made up of the radical 王 (wáng), meaning 'king' or 'jade,' suggesting that the tortoise shell is a precious material fit for a king. Visualize this tortoise proudly displaying its beautiful shell to remember both the form and meaning.

Meanings of 玳

dài(dai4)
1tortoise shell
2turtle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 玳 means.

About 玳

玳Simplified
9Strokes
王Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 玳

JasonAmy

Podcast: 玳

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 玳

Usage Notes

While 玳 is specific to tortoise shell, learners may confuse it with similar materials like '象牙' (xiàngyá, ivory). This character is more formal and may appear in literary works rather than casual speech. Pay attention to the tone, as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 玳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 3 themes of animals and materials. Students should focus on recognizing characters related to nature and traditional materials, enriching their vocabulary with contextually relevant terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 玳 to refer to turtles in general, while it specifically denotes the shell. For example, saying '我喜欢玳' (I like tortoises) is incorrect; instead, use '我喜欢龟' (I like turtles).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 玳

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 玳 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 玳 to You

Let me explain 玳 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 玳 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 玳?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 玳 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 玳

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

jade

Semantic (meaning)王
+
Phonetic (sound)代
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

玳 = 王 + 代. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 玳

IDS Structure⿰王代
玳Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
代dai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 玳?

How to say tortoise shell in Chinese

“tortoise shell” in Chinese is玳dài

The character 玳 (dài) refers specifically to tortoise shell, a material traditionally used in crafting decorative items and jewelry. It is often associated with the concept of longevity and stability, given the tortoise's symbolism in Chinese culture. The usage is more common in historical or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

When to use 玳

While 玳 is specific to tortoise shell, learners may confuse it with similar materials like '象牙' (xiàngyá, ivory). This character is more formal and may appear in literary works rather than casual speech. Pay attention to the tone, as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 玳 to refer to turtles in general, while it specifically denotes the shell. For example, saying '我喜欢玳' (I like tortoises) is incorrect; instead, use '我喜欢龟' (I like turtles).

Write 玳

玳

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 玳?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 玳

Words Containing This Character2
玳瑁tortoiseshell
玳dàiturtle
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 玳

What does 玳瑁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 玳

You might say 玳的饰品很受欢迎 (The tortoise shell jewelry is very popular) to illustrate its use in crafting.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 玳?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab