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遁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
dùnto flee, to escape; to hide, to conceal oneselfvg, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #24098, Hard
dùnto evadeunknown, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #24098, Hard
dùn(dun4) T4
  1. 1to flee, to escape; to hide, to conceal oneself
  2. 2to evade
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March 24, 2026
dùn(dun4)

The character 遁 (dùn) primarily means to flee or escape, often used in contexts where someone is avoiding capture or evading a situation. It can also imply hiding or concealing oneself from others, making it relevant in both literal and metaphorical discussions about evasion or secrecy.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#24098DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and philosophy, 遁 is often associated with Taoist concepts of retreating from the chaos of society to find peace, reflecting a cultural appreciation for harmony and balance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rabbit (the radical '辶' which means 'walk' or 'move') cleverly evading a hunter by swiftly running away. The sound 'dùn' can remind you of 'done'—as in, you are 'done' with the situation and need to flee.

Meanings of 遁

dùn(dun4)
1to flee, to escape; to hide, to conceal oneself
2to evade
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 遁

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 遁

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AI Study Notes for 遁

Quick Contrast

逃 (táo, to escape) — use 遁 when emphasizing concealment or evasion, whereas 逃 focuses on the act of fleeing.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a rabbit (the radical '辶' which means 'walk' or 'move') cleverly evading a hunter by swiftly running away. The sound 'dùn' can remind you of 'done'—as in, you are 'done' with the situation and need to flee.

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 遁 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 盾 (dùn), which means 'shield.' This character is more formal and often appears in literary or historical contexts, such as in ancient texts about military strategy.

HSK Study Tips

Although 遁 is not an HSK level word, it connects with other verbs of movement or action found in the HSK vocabulary, such as 走 (zǒu, to walk) and 跑 (pǎo, to run). Focus on using it in phrases that express movement away from something or someone.

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and philosophy, 遁 is often associated with Taoist concepts of retreating from the chaos of society to find peace, reflecting a cultural appreciation for harmony and balance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 遁 with 逃 (táo), which also means 'to escape' but is more commonly used in everyday contexts. Remember that 遁 has a more formal and literary tone, while 逃 is more casual.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遁

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Etymology of 遁

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

To escape 辶 to shelter 盾; 盾 also provides the pronunciation

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 遁?

Decomposition of 遁

IDS Structure⿺辶盾
Full Character
=
chuo4
enclosing
dun4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 遁?

Write 遁

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 遁

遁 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 1

Complete the Sentence

这句问话是一种穷急智生的狡猾的____辞词.

The question was a quick, shrewd parry.

Example Sentences for 遁 (1)

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1
这句问话是一种穷急智生的狡猾的遁辞词.

zhè jù wèn huà shì yī zhǒng qióng jí zhì shēng de jiǎo huá de dùn cí cí.

The question was a quick, shrewd parry.

Cultural Notes for 遁

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature and philosophy, 遁 is often associated with Taoist concepts of retreating from the chaos of society to find peace, reflecting a cultural appreciation for harmony and balance.

Word Family of 遁

Words Containing This Character6
dùnto evade
遁形to vanish
逃遁to escape
遁入空门to take refuge in religious life遁入空門
奇门遁甲ancient Chinese divination tradition (still in use today)奇門遁甲
隐遁to hide (from the world)隱遁
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 遁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 遁

You can use 遁 when discussing escape plans, evasion tactics, or even in metaphorical language about avoiding responsibilities.