HSK 7, zg, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6827, Very Hard
抖
dǒu
to shake out
HSK 7, zg, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6827, Very Hard
抖
dǒu
to reveal
HSK 7, zg, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6827, Very Hard
抖
dǒu
to make it in the world
HSK 7, zg, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6827, Very Hard
抖
dǒu
to tremble, to shake, to rouse
HSK 7, zg, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #6827, Very Hard
dǒu(dou3) T3
1to tremble
2to shake out
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March 24, 2026
抖dǒu(dou3)
The character 抖 (dǒu) primarily means 'to tremble' or 'to shake.' It is often used in contexts such as expressing physical shaking, like someone shivering from cold or excitement, as well as metaphorically, like revealing something unexpected. In modern usage, it can also refer to making a splash or becoming successful in a noticeable way.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#6827DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The concept of shaking or trembling is often associated with traditional Chinese beliefs about anxiety or excitement, where physical reactions are seen as manifestations of emotional states. Additionally, the character is used in the name of popular social media platforms, indicating a modern cultural shift towards digital expression.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dog (the left side of 抖) that shakes off water after a bath, creating a splash. This shaking sound can remind you of the pronunciation 'dǒu.' The hand (the right side) is like someone shaking out their clothes to reveal something hidden.
Meanings of 抖
dǒu(dou3)
1to tremble
2to shake out
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 抖
抖Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#6827Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 抖
Podcast: 抖
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AI Study Notes for 抖
Quick Contrast
颤 (chàn) - use 抖 (dǒu) for general shaking, while 颤 (chàn) emphasizes a quivering or trembling motion, often due to fear or anxiety.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 抖 with similar-sounding characters, as tone is crucial. It is often used in informal contexts, so be mindful of your audience. Common collocations include 抖动 (dǒudòng - to shake) and 抖音 (dǒuyīn - TikTok) which shows its modern relevance.
HSK Study Tips
While 抖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other action verbs you might encounter at HSK 3 and 4, such as 跑 (pǎo - to run) and 跳 (tiào - to jump). Focus on its usage in colloquial phrases and the various contexts it appears in.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抖 with similar characters like 斗 (dǒu - to fight) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember, 抖 emphasizes shaking, while 斗 refers to fighting or contention.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抖
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 斗 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half斗 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 抖? 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 抖?
Decomposition of 抖
IDS Structure⿰扌斗
抖Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
斗Dou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 抖?
How to say to tremble in Chinese
“to tremble” in Chinese is抖dǒu
The character 抖 (dǒu) primarily means 'to tremble' or 'to shake.' It is often used in contexts such as expressing physical shaking, like someone shivering from cold or excitement, as well as metaphorically, like revealing something unexpected. In modern usage, it can also refer to making a splash or becoming successful in a noticeable way.
When to use 抖
Be careful not to confuse 抖 with similar-sounding characters, as tone is crucial. It is often used in informal contexts, so be mindful of your audience. Common collocations include 抖动 (dǒudòng - to shake) and 抖音 (dǒuyīn - TikTok) which shows its modern relevance.
抖 or something close to it
颤 (chàn) - use 抖 (dǒu) for general shaking, while 颤 (chàn) emphasizes a quivering or trembling motion, often due to fear or anxiety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 抖 with similar characters like 斗 (dǒu - to fight) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember, 抖 emphasizes shaking, while 斗 refers to fighting or contention.
Write 抖
抖
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Practice writing 抖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 抖
抖 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
