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牍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牍dúwriting tablet; documents, bookszg, 12 strokes, radical 片, rank #50467, Very Hard
dú(du2)du T2
  1. 1writing tablet; documents, books
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March 24, 2026

牍(牘)dú(du2)

The character 牍 (dú) refers to writing tablets or documents, particularly in historical contexts. It is commonly used to denote formal written records or texts, often associated with legal or administrative documents. In modern usage, it can imply any form of written communication that holds significance.

Strokes12Radical片Frequency#50467DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In ancient China, important documents were often inscribed on wooden tablets, which were used for record-keeping in bureaucratic processes. This practice highlights the significance of written documentation in Chinese governance and society.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, ancient writing tablet made of wood with intricate carvings. The character 牍 resembles a tablet with the left side suggesting a wooden texture, linking it to the idea of written documents. The sound 'dú' can be remembered by thinking of 'do' as in doing important writing.

Meanings of 牍

dú(du2)
1writing tablet; documents, books
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 牍

牍Simplified
牘Traditional
12Strokes
片Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牍

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Podcast: 牍

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AI Study Notes for 牍

Quick Contrast

文书 (wénshū, written document) — use 牍 (dú) for formal or historical contexts, while 文书 (wénshū) is more general and contemporary.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 牍 with similar characters like 读 (dú, to read) or 笔 (bǐ, pen), which may arise in contexts involving literacy. This character is more formal, so it is best used in written communication or discussions about documents rather than casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

牍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but is relevant for learners interested in formal or historical language. Students should focus on its usage in the context of documents and combine it with related vocabulary like 文件 (wénjiàn, document) to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 牍 with 读 (dú). A common mistake is using 牍 in casual conversation, such as saying '我在牍书' (Wǒ zài dú shū, 'I am reading a book') instead of using 读. The correct usage would be '我在读书'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牍

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Etymology of 牍

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 片 represents the meaning and 卖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 牘.

Memory hint

page

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

Origin

牍 = 片 + 卖. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 牍

IDS Structure⿰片卖
牍Full character
=
片pian1
left
卖mai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 牍?

How to say writing tablet; documents, books in Chinese

“writing tablet; documents, books” in Chinese is牍dú

The character 牍 (dú) refers to writing tablets or documents, particularly in historical contexts. It is commonly used to denote formal written records or texts, often associated with legal or administrative documents. In modern usage, it can imply any form of written communication that holds significance.

When to use 牍

Be cautious not to confuse 牍 with similar characters like 读 (dú, to read) or 笔 (bǐ, pen), which may arise in contexts involving literacy. This character is more formal, so it is best used in written communication or discussions about documents rather than casual conversation.

牍 or something close to it

文书 (wénshū, written document) — use 牍 (dú) for formal or historical contexts, while 文书 (wénshū) is more general and contemporary.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 牍 with 读 (dú). A common mistake is using 牍 in casual conversation, such as saying '我在牍书' (Wǒ zài dú shū, 'I am reading a book') instead of using 读. The correct usage would be '我在读书'.

Write 牍

牍

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

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Word Family of 牍

Words containing this character5
牍dúdocuments牘
连篇累牍verbose連篇累牘
长篇累牍(of a text) very lengthy (idiom)長篇累牘
文牍paperwork文牘
文牍主义red tape文牘主義
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 牍

What does 连篇累牍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 牍

While both refer to documents, 牍 specifically relates to written tablets or formal records, whereas 文件 is a broader term for any document.

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