Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鼗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
táosmall revolving drum with knobsg, 19 strokes, radical 鼓, Very Hard
táoa drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)unknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓, Very Hard
táorattle-drumunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓, Very Hard
táo(tao2) T2
  1. 1small revolving drum with knobs
  2. 2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
táo(tao2)

The character 鼗 (táo) refers to a type of small drum, specifically a revolving drum with knobs or a rattle-drum often used by peddlers or as a toy. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese music and play, highlighting a playful aspect of culture and entertainment.

Strokes19RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, instruments like the 鼗 are often used in folk performances, especially during festivals or celebrations, symbolizing joy and community spirit. It connects to children's play and the vibrant atmosphere of street performances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, colorful drum that spins around and makes noise when you turn it. The character 鼗 has the radical '鼓' which relates to drums, and the sound 'táo' can remind you of a child shouting 'ta-da!' when they spin the drum, making it a fun, celebratory sound.

Meanings of 鼗

táo(tao2)
1small revolving drum with knobs
2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼗

Simplified
19Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼗

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鼗

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a small, colorful drum that spins around and makes noise when you turn it. The character 鼗 has the radical '鼓' which relates to drums, and the sound 'táo' can remind you of a child shouting 'ta-da!' when they spin the drum, making it a fun, celebratory sound.

Usage Notes

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, primarily used in specific contexts related to music or toys. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts rather than in modern spoken language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to other HSK words related to music or instruments. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the radicals and components of characters to enhance their understanding of related vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, instruments like the 鼗 are often used in folk performances, especially during festivals or celebrations, symbolizing joy and community spirit. It connects to children's play and the vibrant atmosphere of street performances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼗 with other characters related to drums, such as 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' in a more general sense. A common mistake is saying '鼓' when referring to a rattle-drum; instead, use '鼗' for that specific instrument.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼗

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鼗

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

drum

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鼗?

Decomposition of 鼗

IDS Structure⿱兆鼓
Full Character
=
Zhao4
top
gu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼗?

Write 鼗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 鼗

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, instruments like the 鼗 are often used in folk performances, especially during festivals or celebrations, symbolizing joy and community spirit. It connects to children's play and the vibrant atmosphere of street performances.

Word Family of 鼗

Words Containing This Character1
táorattle-drum
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鼗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼗

The 鼗 is primarily used as a toy or in traditional music, often associated with children's entertainment.