Meanings of 打
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About 打
Podcast: 打
Podcast: 打
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AI Study Notes for 打
打 (dǎ) vs 拍 (pāi) — use 打 for striking or hitting, while 拍 specifically refers to actions like clapping or slapping.
Often confused with other action verbs, learners should be careful not to use 打 in contexts where other verbs might be more appropriate, such as 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') versus simply using 打 (dá) for hitting. It's informal, so avoid using it in very formal writing or speech.
打 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels but is foundational for beginners. It connects to many other verbs like 玩 (wán, 'to play') and 说 (shuō, 'to speak'), allowing learners to form compound verbs like 打球 (dǎ qiú, 'to play ball'). Focus on its uses in daily conversation to build fluency.
Learners often confuse 打 with other similar verbs like 拍 (pāi, 'to slap') or 敲 (qiāo, 'to knock'). For example, saying '我拍球' instead of '我打球' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我打球' (Wǒ dǎ qiú, 'I play ball').
Pronunciation of 打
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Etymology of 打
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 打
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half丁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 打? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 打?
Decomposition of 打
Identify the Components
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How to say to beat in Chinese
“to beat” in Chinese is打
The character 打 (dá) primarily means 'to hit' or 'to strike', and it is used in various contexts such as physical actions (like hitting a ball) and metaphorical uses (like typing on a keyboard). It's a versatile verb that can convey actions ranging from fighting to creating or building, making it common in both everyday and formal speech.
When to use 打
Often confused with other action verbs, learners should be careful not to use 打 in contexts where other verbs might be more appropriate, such as 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') versus simply using 打 (dá) for hitting. It's informal, so avoid using it in very formal writing or speech.
打 or something close to it
打 (dǎ) vs 拍 (pāi) — use 打 for striking or hitting, while 拍 specifically refers to actions like clapping or slapping.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 打 with other similar verbs like 拍 (pāi, 'to slap') or 敲 (qiāo, 'to knock'). For example, saying '我拍球' instead of '我打球' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我打球' (Wǒ dǎ qiú, 'I play ball').
Write 打
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Practice writing 打 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 打
打 carries 19 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
我喜欢看电视，弟弟喜欢____球。
I like watching TV; my younger brother likes playing ball.
Example Sentences for 打 (16)
Word Family of 打
Compound Meaning
What does 咑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 打
Yes, 打 can be used figuratively, such as in expressions like 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') or 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohū, 'to greet').
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