Meanings of 滔
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About 滔
Podcast: 滔
Podcast: 滔
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AI Study Notes for 滔
滔 (tāo) vs 泛 (fàn): Use 滔 for a strong, forceful overflow, while 泛 describes a gentler, more widespread surface flow.
Be careful not to confuse 滔 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo), which means to escape. 滔 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or news reports about natural disasters. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '潮' (tide).
Although 滔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to words at HSK level 3 and above that describe weather and nature, such as 雨 (yǔ, rain) or 洪水 (hóngshuǐ, flood). Focus on its usage in literary contexts to enhance vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 滔 with 逃 (táo), leading to sentences like '我想滔出这个地方' (I want to overflow out of this place) instead of '我想逃出这个地方' (I want to escape from this place). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.
Pronunciation of 滔
Drill the tone of 滔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 滔
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 滔
- 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half舀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywater
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 滔? 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
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Decomposition of 滔
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How to say overflow in Chinese
“overflow” in Chinese is滔
The character 滔 (tāo) means to overflow or to rush with great force, often used to describe torrents of water or a flood. It can also be applied metaphorically to express emotions or situations that are overwhelming or abundant. Common contexts include descriptions of rivers or heavy rain.
When to use 滔
Be careful not to confuse 滔 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo), which means to escape. 滔 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or news reports about natural disasters. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '潮' (tide).
滔 or something close to it
滔 (tāo) vs 泛 (fàn): Use 滔 for a strong, forceful overflow, while 泛 describes a gentler, more widespread surface flow.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 滔 with 逃 (táo), leading to sentences like '我想滔出这个地方' (I want to overflow out of this place) instead of '我想逃出这个地方' (I want to escape from this place). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.
Write 滔
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Practice writing 滔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 滔
滔 carries 3 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
他犯下的____天罪行给她的生活蒙上了永久的阴影。
Her life has been per-manently blighted by his heinous crime.
Example Sentences for 滔 (2)
Word Family of 滔
Compound Meaning
What does 滔滔不绝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滔
It is pronounced as tāo, with a high level tone.
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