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驼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驼tuócamel; humpback; to carry on one's backn, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #16217, Very Hard
驼tuóhump or hunchbackedunknown, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #16217, Very Hard
tuó(tuo2)tuo T2
  1. 1camel; humpback; to carry on one's back
  2. 2hump or hunchbacked
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March 24, 2026

驼(駝)tuó(tuo2)

驼 (tuó) primarily means 'camel,' a large, domesticated animal known for its ability to carry heavy loads across deserts. It can also refer to a humped back or someone who is hunchbacked, highlighting its use in describing physical characteristics. In contexts of transport or carrying, it can imply the action of bearing a load on one's back.

Strokes8Radical马Frequency#16217DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, camels are often associated with trade along the Silk Road, representing endurance and the ability to traverse harsh environments. This historical significance adds depth to the character's meaning.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'tall' camel that has a 't' shape with its humped back. The '驼' character can be envisioned as a camel (the radical '马' representing horse/camel) carrying a heavy load on its back, helping you connect the character's form to its meaning.

Meanings of 驼

tuó(tuo2)
1camel; humpback; to carry on one's back
2hump or hunchbacked
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 驼

驼Simplified
駝Traditional
8Strokes
马Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 驼

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Podcast: 驼

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AI Study Notes for 驼

Quick Contrast

骆 (luò) - use 驼 (tuó) for 'camel' specifically when referring to its humped back, while 骆 (luò) can refer to the broader category of camels.

Usage Notes

When using 驼, be cautious of its formality; it is somewhat neutral but can lean towards literary contexts. Common collocations include 驼峰 (tuófēng, camel's hump) and 驼背 (tuóbèi, hunchback). Remember that pronunciation is crucial, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with unrelated words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 驼 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK 3 words like 背 (bēi, to carry) and 骑 (qí, to ride), which may help learners associate these concepts. Focusing on the radicals and components in the character can aid in expanding vocabulary related to animals and physical attributes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驼 with other characters due to similar pronunciation or tones. For instance, saying 'tuǒ' instead of 'tuó' can lead to misunderstandings, as 'tuǒ' (妥) means 'proper' or 'settled'. Always double-check the tone when practicing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驼

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Etymology of 驼

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

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 它 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駝.

Memory hint

horse

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

Origin

驼 = 马 + 它. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 驼

IDS Structure⿰马它
驼Full character
=
马Ma3
left
它ta1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 驼?

How to say camel; humpback; to carry on one's back in Chinese

“camel; humpback; to carry on one's back” in Chinese is驼tuó

驼 (tuó) primarily means 'camel,' a large, domesticated animal known for its ability to carry heavy loads across deserts. It can also refer to a humped back or someone who is hunchbacked, highlighting its use in describing physical characteristics. In contexts of transport or carrying, it can imply the action of bearing a load on one's back.

When to use 驼

When using 驼, be cautious of its formality; it is somewhat neutral but can lean towards literary contexts. Common collocations include 驼峰 (tuófēng, camel's hump) and 驼背 (tuóbèi, hunchback). Remember that pronunciation is crucial, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with unrelated words.

驼 or something close to it

骆 (luò) - use 驼 (tuó) for 'camel' specifically when referring to its humped back, while 骆 (luò) can refer to the broader category of camels.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 驼 with other characters due to similar pronunciation or tones. For instance, saying 'tuǒ' instead of 'tuó' can lead to misunderstandings, as 'tuǒ' (妥) means 'proper' or 'settled'. Always double-check the tone when practicing.

Write 驼

驼

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

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Grammar Patterns of 驼

驼 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 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他是个瘦高个儿,有点____背。

He was a tall, thin fellow with a slight stoop.

Example Sentences for 驼 (10)

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1
他是个瘦高个儿,有点驼背。

tā shì gè shòu gāo gè ér, , yǒu diǎn tuó。

He was a tall, thin fellow with a slight stoop.
2
锡西不仅驼背,而且又矮又胖。

xī xī bù jǐn tuó bèi, , ér qiě yòu ǎi yòu。

Cissie was round-shouldered and dumpy.
3
他们必须找食物喂饱这些动物(骆驼), 否则它们就会死掉.

tā mén bì xū zhǎo shí wù wèi bǎo zhè xiē dòng wù( ( luò), tuó ), fǒu zé tā mén jiù huì.

They must find food for the animals, or the animals will die.
4
骆驼的蹄子虽然非常适合于在干沙上行走,碰到泥泞时却无计可施。

luò tuó de tí zǐ suī rán fēi cháng shì hé yú zài gān shā shàng háng zǒu, , pèng dào ní nìng shí què wú jì kě。

The camel's feet, well adapted for dry sand, are useless on mud.
5
那只美洲驼有一只腿瘸.

nà zhī měi zhōu tuó yǒu yī zhī tuǐ qué.

The llama has a lame leg.
6
驼鸟是双腿跑得最快的动物.

tuó niǎo shì shuāng tuǐ pǎo dé zuì kuài de dòng wù.

Ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.
7
有的就说: “ 祥子, 骆驼, 你这差事美呀!

yǒu de jiù shuō:“ : “ xiáng, zǐ ,, luò tuó , nǐ zhè chà!

One of them said, " Hey Xiangzi, Camel, you've got a cushy job!
8
我像个老妇人似的驼着背。

wǒ xiàng gè lǎo fù rén sì de tuó zháo bèi。

I was humped like an old lady.
9
钱德勒: 好了,乔伊, 乖点儿, 那么他是驼背?

qián dé lè: : hǎo, le ,, qiáo yī ,, guāi diǎn ér , nà mó?

Chandler: All right Joey, be nice . So does he have a hump?
10
美洲驼既不会咬人也不会踢人。

měi zhōu tuó jì bù huì yǎo rén yě bù huì tī rén。

Llamas won't bite or kick.

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Word Family of 驼

Words containing this character8
骆驼camel駱駝
驼tuócamel駝
驼背hunchbacked駝背
驼鹿elk駝鹿
驼色light tan (color)駝色
驼子hunchback駝子
羊驼alpaca羊駝
单峰驼dromedary單峰駝
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 驼

What does 骆驼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驼

The pronunciation is 'tuó', with a rising tone. Practicing with audio resources can help reinforce correct intonation.

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