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March 24, 2026
涂(塗)tú(tu2)
The character 涂 (tú) primarily means 'to apply' or 'to smear,' often in the context of applying paint, ink, or similar substances. It can also refer to the act of scribbling or daubing something, and in literary contexts, it may denote mud or a street. This word is commonly used in both artistic and practical situations.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#2956DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese art, the act of applying ink or paint is a significant process, often emphasizing the importance of technique and expression. 涂 reflects this cultural appreciation for artistic methods.
Memory tip
Imagine a painter (涂) applying a thick coat of paint to a wall, smearing it across the surface. The character looks like a big splash or smear of paint, helping you remember its meaning of 'to apply' or 'to daub'.
Meanings of 涂
tú(tu2)
1to apply (paint etc)
2to smear
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 涂 means.
About 涂
涂Simplified
塗Traditional
10Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2956Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 涂
Podcast: 涂
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AI study notes for 涂
Quick Contrast
涂 (tú) vs 画 (huà) — use 涂 when referring specifically to applying or smearing a substance, while 画 refers to drawing or painting an image.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 涂 with similar-sounding words. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in artistic expressions or everyday tasks like painting. Common collocations include 涂色 (tú sè - to color) and 涂抹 (tú mǒ - to smear).
HSK Study Tips
Though 涂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to other verbs related to actions, such as 写 (xiě - to write) or 画 (huà - to draw). Focus on the context in which 涂 is used, especially in artistic discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 涂 with the character 图 (tú), which means 'map' or 'picture'. For example, saying 涂 means 'picture' is incorrect; instead, remember that 涂 relates to applying or smearing substances.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涂
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 涂 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
涂 = 氵 + 余. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 涂
IDS Structure⿰氵余
涂Full character
=
氵shui3
left
余Yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 涂?
How to say to apply (paint etc) in Chinese
“to apply (paint etc)” in Chinese is涂tú
The character 涂 (tú) primarily means 'to apply' or 'to smear,' often in the context of applying paint, ink, or similar substances. It can also refer to the act of scribbling or daubing something, and in literary contexts, it may denote mud or a street. This word is commonly used in both artistic and practical situations.
When to use 涂
Be careful not to confuse 涂 with similar-sounding words. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in artistic expressions or everyday tasks like painting. Common collocations include 涂色 (tú sè - to color) and 涂抹 (tú mǒ - to smear).
涂 or something close to it
涂 (tú) vs 画 (huà) — use 涂 when referring specifically to applying or smearing a substance, while 画 refers to drawing or painting an image.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 涂 with the character 图 (tú), which means 'map' or 'picture'. For example, saying 涂 means 'picture' is incorrect; instead, remember that 涂 relates to applying or smearing substances.
Write 涂
涂
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Practice writing 涂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 涂
涂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 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.
将胭脂调匀____在你脸颊红润的地方。
Dust and blend blusher on the apples of your cheeks.
Common confusions with 涂
涂vs图
tú
Same pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to apply (paint etc)”?
or
Example sentences for 涂 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
将胭脂调匀涂在你脸颊红润的地方。
jiāng yān zhī diào yún tú zài nǐ liǎnjiá hóngrùn de dìfang。
Dust and blend blusher on the apples of your cheeks.
