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胴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胴dòngthe large intestine; the bodyn, 10 strokes, radical ⺼
胴dònglarge intestineunknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼
胴dòngtorsounknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼
dòng(dong4) T4
  1. 1the large intestine; the body
  2. 2large intestine
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

胴dòng(dong4)

The character 胴 (dòng) refers to the torso or the large intestine in the human body. It is used in anatomical contexts and can also metaphorically represent the concept of the body as a whole. This term is more commonly found in medical or formal discussions than in everyday conversation.

Strokes10Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the large intestine holds significant importance in digestion and overall health, reflecting the holistic view of the body. Understanding 胴 can enhance one's appreciation of these medical concepts.

Memory Tip

Think of 胴 as a 'doughy' body, where the '土' (earth) radical suggests something grounded and solid, while the '月' (moon) implies a rounded shape, reminiscent of a torso. Imagine a loaf of dough shaped like a human torso to remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 胴

dòng(dong4)
1the large intestine; the body
2large intestine
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 胴

胴Simplified
10Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胴

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Podcast: 胴

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AI Study Notes for 胴

Usage Notes

When using 胴, remember that it is more formal and might not be suitable for casual conversations about the body. Common collocations include 胴体 (dòngtǐ, torso) and 胴腑 (dòngfǔ, internal organs). Be cautious of the tone; 'dòng' is a fourth tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 胴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to Level 3 terms related to body parts, such as 身体 (shēntǐ, body) and 腹 (fù, abdomen). Students should focus on recognizing anatomical terms and understanding their specific contexts in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胴 with related terms like 身体 (shēntǐ, body) or 腹 (fù, abdomen). For example, saying '我的胴' (wǒ de dòng) to mean 'my body' is incorrect; instead, use '我的身体' (wǒ de shēntǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胴

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Etymology of 胴

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 同 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

flesh

Semantic (meaning)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)同
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 胴

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 同 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half同 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 胴? 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 胴?

Decomposition of 胴

IDS Structure⿰⺼同
胴Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
同tong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 胴?

How to say the large intestine; the body in Chinese

“the large intestine; the body” in Chinese is胴dòng

The character 胴 (dòng) refers to the torso or the large intestine in the human body. It is used in anatomical contexts and can also metaphorically represent the concept of the body as a whole. This term is more commonly found in medical or formal discussions than in everyday conversation.

When to use 胴

When using 胴, remember that it is more formal and might not be suitable for casual conversations about the body. Common collocations include 胴体 (dòngtǐ, torso) and 胴腑 (dòngfǔ, internal organs). Be cautious of the tone; 'dòng' is a fourth tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 胴 with related terms like 身体 (shēntǐ, body) or 腹 (fù, abdomen). For example, saying '我的胴' (wǒ de dòng) to mean 'my body' is incorrect; instead, use '我的身体' (wǒ de shēntǐ).

Write 胴

胴

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

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Word Family of 胴

Words Containing This Character2
胴体carcass胴體
胴dòngtorso
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 胴体 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 胴

No, 胴 is primarily used in medical or formal contexts rather than casual speech.

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