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陶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陶táosurname TaoHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #6938, Hard
陶táopotteryHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #6938, Hard
陶táopleasedHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #6938, Hard
陶táopottery, ceramicsHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #6938, Hard
táo(Tao2) T2
  1. 1pottery
  2. 2pleased
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March 24, 2026

陶táo(Tao2)

The character 陶 (táo) primarily refers to pottery or ceramics, reflecting its significance in traditional Chinese craftsmanship. In addition to its material meaning, it can also function as a surname, Tao, and can convey a sense of being pleased or delighted in certain contexts. Its usage is common in discussions about art, culture, and family names.

Strokes10Radical阝Frequency#6938DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

陶 is deeply connected to Chinese culture, as pottery has been an essential part of Chinese heritage for thousands of years, symbolizing both artistic expression and functionality in daily life. The famous Terracotta Army is a notable example of historical pottery.

Memory Tip

Imagine a potter (陶) shaping clay on a wheel. The character has a roof (亠) representing the workshop above and the character for clay (土) at the bottom, suggesting a connection to pottery. The pronunciation 'táo' sounds like 'towel', which you might use to wipe your hands after working with clay.

Meanings of 陶

táo(Tao2)
1pottery
2pleased
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 陶

陶Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#6938Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 陶

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Podcast: 陶

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AI Study Notes for 陶

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a potter (陶) shaping clay on a wheel. The character has a roof (亠) representing the workshop above and the character for clay (土) at the bottom, suggesting a connection to pottery. The pronunciation 'táo' sounds like 'towel', which you might use to wipe your hands after working with clay.

Usage Notes

When using 陶, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words. It's more common in formal contexts when referring to ceramics, while the surname usage is more informal. Avoid mixing it up with other characters that sound similar, like 逃 (táo - to escape).

HSK Study Tips

Although 陶 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is related to concepts of craftsmanship and art found in Level 3-4 words. Students should focus on recognizing it in the context of cultural discussions and connect it with related terms like 瓷 (cí - porcelain) to enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

陶 is deeply connected to Chinese culture, as pottery has been an essential part of Chinese heritage for thousands of years, symbolizing both artistic expression and functionality in daily life. The famous Terracotta Army is a notable example of historical pottery.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 陶 as 'tāo' with a high tone instead of the correct rising tone 'táo'. Additionally, some confuse it with 逃, which means to escape, leading to incorrect usage in sentences.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陶

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Etymology of 陶

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

A mound 阝 of clay 匋; 匋 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 陶?

Decomposition of 陶

IDS Structure⿰阝匋
陶Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
匋tao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 陶?

Write 陶

陶

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

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Grammar Patterns of 陶

陶 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

她的歌声让我完全____醉其中。

She just totally blew me away with her singing.

Example Sentences for 陶 (10)

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1
她的歌声让我完全陶醉其中。

tā de gē shēng ràng wǒ wán quán táo zuì qí zhōng。

She just totally blew me away with her singing.
2
立陶宛人开始意识到物资日益匮乏。

lì táo wǎn rén kāi shǐ yì shí dào wù zī rì yì kuì fá。

Lithuanians are waking up to a world of increasing shortages.
3
很多立陶宛人对该决定是否明智表示了怀疑。

hěn duō lì táo wǎn rén duì gāi jué dìng shì fǒu míng zhì biǎo shì le huái yí。

Many Lithuanians have expressed doubts about the wisdom of the decision.
4
他有时让人难以容忍——自我中心，自我陶醉。

tā yǒu shí ràng rén nán yǐ róng rěn—— —— zì wǒ zhōng， xīn ， zì wǒ。

He was insufferable at times — self-centred and narcissistic.
5
陶瓦地板使这个地方给人一种非常舒适温馨的感觉。

táo wǎ dì bǎn shǐ zhè gè dì fāng gěi rén yī zhǒng fēi cháng shū shì wēn xīn de gǎn jué。

The terracotta tiled floor gives the place a wonderfully homely character.
6
玛丽好像陶醉在他那旧式的骑士风度里。

mǎ lì hǎo xiàng táo zuì zài tā nà jiù shì de qí shì fēng dù lǐ。

Marie seemed to revel in his old-fashioned chivalry.
7
她站在那儿，陶醉于那流光溢彩的美景中。

tā zhàn zài nà ér， ， táo zuì yú nà liú guāng yì cǎi de měi jǐng。

She stood drinking in the glittering view.
8
陶罐在这一混合料中浸过之后就拿去烧制。

táo guàn zài zhè yī hùn hé liào zhōng jìn guò zhī hòu jiù ná qù shāo zhì。

After the pot is dipped in this mixture, it is fired.
9
我周围是些经常读书写文章的人，我是在他们的熏陶下长大的。

wǒ zhōu wéi shì xiē jīng cháng dú shū xiě wén zhāng de rén， ， wǒ shì zài tā mén de xūn táo xià cháng dà。

I was brought up among people who read and wrote a lot.
10
普通的陶瓷元件分别是钛酸钡和锆钛酸铅.

pǔ tōng de táo cí yuán jiàn fēn bié shì tài suān bèi hé gào tài suān qiān.

Common ceramic elements are barium titanate and lead zirconate - titanate.

Cultural Notes for 陶

🏮Cultural insight

陶 is deeply connected to Chinese culture, as pottery has been an essential part of Chinese heritage for thousands of years, symbolizing both artistic expression and functionality in daily life. The famous Terracotta Army is a notable example of historical pottery.

Word Family of 陶

Words Containing This Character19
陶táopottery
陶瓷táocíceramics
陶醉táozuìto be drunk with
立陶宛Lithuania
熏陶xūntáoto seep in薰陶
陶器pottery
陶艺ceramic art陶藝
自我陶醉self-satisfied
陶冶táoyěfig. to educate
陶土kaolin
陶渊明Tao Yuanming (c. 365-427), Jin dynasty writer and poet陶淵明
立陶宛人Lithuanian (person)
陶冶情操to cultivate one's mind
陶潜Tao Qian or Tao Yuanming 陶渊明|陶淵明 (c. 365-427), Jin dynasty writer and poet陶潛
陶行知Tao Xingzhi (1891-1946), Chinese educator and reformer
叶圣陶Ye Shengtao (1894-1988), writer and editor, known esp. for children's books葉聖陶
陶俑a pottery figurine buried with the dead
乐陶陶joyful樂陶陶
定陶Dingtao county in Heze 菏澤|菏泽[Hé​zé], Shandong
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 陶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陶

陶 means pottery or ceramics, and it can also be used as a surname, Tao.