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禿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
禿baldx, 7 strokes, radical 禾, Very Hard
(tu1) T1
  1. 1bald
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March 24, 2026

禿(tu1)

The character 禿 (tū) means 'bald' or 'hairless.' It is commonly used to describe a person who has lost their hair or has very little hair. In certain contexts, it may also refer to areas devoid of vegetation, emphasizing a lack of covering or growth.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being bald can carry different connotations depending on context; for instance, some monks shave their heads as a sign of renunciation. Additionally, baldness is sometimes humorously referenced in popular media.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'turtle' (sounds like 'tū') with a shiny bald head. The character 禿 includes the radical for 'hair' (毛) above, indicating the absence of hair, just like the turtle's head shows no hair at all.

Meanings of 禿

(tu1)
1bald
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 禿

禿Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 禿

JasonAmy

Podcast: 禿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 禿

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'turtle' (sounds like 'tū') with a shiny bald head. The character 禿 includes the radical for 'hair' (毛) above, indicating the absence of hair, just like the turtle's head shows no hair at all.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of tone when pronouncing 'tū,' as it can easily be confused with other words. This term is somewhat informal and can be used humorously among friends but may be considered rude if used inappropriately. Common collocations include '禿頭' (tūtóu), meaning 'bald head.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 禿 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to the HSK level 1 and 2 vocabulary related to body parts and descriptions. Focus on how this character can enhance your ability to describe people in more detail.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being bald can carry different connotations depending on context; for instance, some monks shave their heads as a sign of renunciation. Additionally, baldness is sometimes humorously referenced in popular media.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 禿 (bald) with other similar-sounding words. For example, saying '他很禿' (tā hěn tū) instead of '他很禿頭' (tā hěn tūtóu) omits the more specific term for 'bald head.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 禿

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Etymology of 禿

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Grains of hair 禾 on a person's head 儿

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 禿?

Decomposition of 禿

IDS Structure⿱禾儿
禿Full Character
=
he2
top
er2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 禿?

Write 禿

禿

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

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Cultural Notes for 禿

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being bald can carry different connotations depending on context; for instance, some monks shave their heads as a sign of renunciation. Additionally, baldness is sometimes humorously referenced in popular media.

Word Family of 禿

Words Containing This Character8
bald禿
秃头baldness禿頭
秃顶bald head禿頂
秃子baldy禿子
秃鹰condor禿鷹
光秃秃bald光禿禿
秃鹫vulture禿鷲
秃发a branch of the Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 nomadic people禿發
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 秃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 禿

It can be perceived as negative if used to describe someone directly; however, in casual settings among friends, it may be taken lightly.