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鞑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鞑dáthe Tartarszg, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #23855, Very Hard
鞑dáTartarunknown, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #23855, Very Hard
鞑dáa tribe in Chinaunknown, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #23855, Very Hard
dá(Da2) T2
  1. 1the Tartars
  2. 2Tartar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鞑(韃)dá(Da2)

The character 鞑 (dá) refers to the Tartars, a group of historically significant nomadic tribes in Central Asia and northern China. It is often used in historical contexts or discussions about ethnic groups in Chinese history, particularly in relation to the Mongolian and Turkic peoples.

Strokes15Radical革Frequency#23855DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The Tartars played a significant role in the history of China, especially during the Mongolian invasions and the establishment of the Yuan dynasty. The word represents a significant aspect of the diverse ethnic tapestry of Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'dad' (sounds like dá) leading a group of nomadic Tartars across the steppes. The character 鞑 has a radical that resembles a 'shoe' (鞄), indicating movement and travel, which connects to the nomadic lifestyle of the Tartars.

Meanings of 鞑

dá(Da2)
1the Tartars
2Tartar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鞑

鞑Simplified
韃Traditional
15Strokes
革Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鞑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鞑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鞑

Usage Notes

When using 鞑, be mindful of its historical connotations and avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing relevant historical topics. It is more formal and less commonly used in modern contexts compared to terms for other ethnic groups.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鞑 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK level 4 related words like 民族 (mínzú, ethnic group) and 文化 (wénhuà, culture). Focus on understanding its historical context and usage in literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鞑 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, mistakenly using 达 (dá, to reach) instead of 鞑 when discussing Tartars can lead to miscommunication. Always ensure you are using the correct character in historical contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鞑

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Etymology of 鞑

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

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 达 represents the sound. Simplified form of 韃.

Memory Hint

leather

Semantic (meaning)革
+
Phonetic (sound)达
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鞑

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 达 represents the sound. Simplified form of 韃.

  1. 1The meaning half革 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half达 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayleather
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鞑? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鞑?

Decomposition of 鞑

IDS Structure⿰革达
鞑Full Character
=
革ge2
left
达Da2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鞑?

How to say the Tartars in Chinese

“the Tartars” in Chinese is鞑dá

The character 鞑 (dá) refers to the Tartars, a group of historically significant nomadic tribes in Central Asia and northern China. It is often used in historical contexts or discussions about ethnic groups in Chinese history, particularly in relation to the Mongolian and Turkic peoples.

When to use 鞑

When using 鞑, be mindful of its historical connotations and avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing relevant historical topics. It is more formal and less commonly used in modern contexts compared to terms for other ethnic groups.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鞑 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, mistakenly using 达 (dá, to reach) instead of 鞑 when discussing Tartars can lead to miscommunication. Always ensure you are using the correct character in historical contexts.

Write 鞑

鞑

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 鞑

鞑 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 2

Complete the Sentence

你被任命为皇家海军舰艇“____靼人”号的皇家海军志愿后备队中尉。

You are hereby appointed Sub-Lieutenant RNVR of HMS Tartar.

Example Sentences for 鞑 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你被任命为皇家海军舰艇“鞑靼人”号的皇家海军志愿后备队中尉。

nǐ bèi rèn mìng wéi huáng jiā hǎi jūn jiàn tǐng“ “ dá dá” rén ” hào de huáng jiā hǎi jūn zhì yuàn hòu bèi duì。

You are hereby appointed Sub-Lieutenant RNVR of HMS Tartar.
2
鞑靼人使用了另一种武器, 所谓 中国龙喷火器.

dá dá rén shǐ yòng le lìng yī zhǒng wǔ qì, , suǒ wèi zhōng guó lóng pēn.

The Tartars employed another weapon, the so - called Chinese dragon belching fire.

Word Family of 鞑

Words Containing This Character2
鞑dáTartar韃
鞑靼Tatar (Turkic ethnic group in central Asia)韃靼
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鞑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鞑

In modern language, 鞑 refers to the historical Tartars and is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鞑?

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.