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趸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
dǔnto buy or sell wholesalevg, 10 strokes, radical 足, rank #27623, Very Hard
dǔnwholesaleunknown, 10 strokes, radical 足, rank #27623, Very Hard
dǔn(dun3) T3
  1. 1to buy or sell wholesale
  2. 2wholesale
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(躉)dǔn(dun3)

The character 趸 (dǔn) refers to the act of buying or selling goods in bulk, commonly known as wholesale. It is often used in commercial contexts where large quantities of products are involved, contrasting with retail sales which deal with individual items.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#27623DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese business practices, wholesale transactions are common, particularly in markets where goods are traded in bulk. This reflects a cultural emphasis on community and cooperative purchasing.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large whale (the radical '走' implies movement) swimming through a market, buying and selling goods in big quantities. The sound 'dǔn' can be associated with 'dunking' the whale into the water as it makes big deals.

Meanings of 趸

dǔn(dun3)
1to buy or sell wholesale
2wholesale
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 趸

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 趸

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AI Study Notes for 趸

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large whale (the radical '走' implies movement) swimming through a market, buying and selling goods in big quantities. The sound 'dǔn' can be associated with 'dunking' the whale into the water as it makes big deals.

Usage Notes

Learners should be careful not to confuse 趸 with similar-sounding words that relate to retail sales. This term is more formal and is typically used in business contexts. It pairs well with terms like '批发' (pīfā - to wholesale).

HSK Study Tips

While 趸 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can help learners identify and discuss commercial practices relevant to their studies. Focus on related vocabulary such as '零售' (língshòu - retail) to grasp the full context of buying and selling.

Cultural Note

In Chinese business practices, wholesale transactions are common, particularly in markets where goods are traded in bulk. This reflects a cultural emphasis on community and cooperative purchasing.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 趸 by applying it in retail contexts, such as saying '我去买趸' (I go to buy wholesale) when they mean 'I go to buy retail' (should use '零售'). Always remember that 趸 is for bulk transactions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 趸

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Etymology of 趸

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A ten-thousand 万 square-foot 足 warehouse

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 趸?

Decomposition of 趸

IDS Structure⿱万足
Full Character
=
Mo4
top
ju4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 趸?

Write 趸

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

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Grammar Patterns of 趸

趸 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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 2

Complete the Sentence

他____批零售.

He buys at wholesale and sells at retail.

Example Sentences for 趸 (1)

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1
他趸批零售.

tā dǔn pī líng shòu.

He buys at wholesale and sells at retail.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

He buys at wholesale and sells at retail.

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Cultural Notes for 趸

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese business practices, wholesale transactions are common, particularly in markets where goods are traded in bulk. This reflects a cultural emphasis on community and cooperative purchasing.

Word Family of 趸

Words Containing This Character5
dǔnwholesale
趸船barge躉船
趸售to sell wholesale躉售
趸卖to sell wholesale躉賣
趸批wholesale躉批
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 趸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 趸

While both terms relate to wholesale, 趸 emphasizes the act of buying or selling in bulk, whereas 批发 specifically refers to the wholesale process.