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鈄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鈄tǒuwine flagonx, 12 strokes, radical 釒
tǒu(tou3) T3
  1. 1wine flagon
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鈄tǒu(tou3)

The character 鈄 (tǒu) refers to a type of wine flagon, specifically a vessel used for storing or serving wine. It is often associated with traditional Chinese drinking culture, particularly during banquets or ceremonies where wine plays a central role. This character is less commonly used in modern contexts but retains historical significance.

Strokes12Radical釒
Cultural Note

In ancient China, wine vessels like the 鈄 were often elaborately designed and used in rituals, symbolizing wealth and social status during important gatherings. Their use still reflects the importance of wine in Chinese hospitality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, ornate wine flagon made of metal, shining beautifully in the light. The radical 鈿 (gold) suggests its valuable material, while the pronunciation 'tǒu' sounds like 'tow'—so picture towing a heavy flagon filled with wine to a feast.

Meanings of 鈄

tǒu(tou3)
1wine flagon
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鈄

鈄Simplified
12Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鈄

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Podcast: 鈄

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AI Study Notes for 鈄

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare and may not be commonly recognized in everyday conversation. When using it, ensure you are in a context related to wine or traditional ceremonies. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 投 (tóu), which means 'to throw.'

HSK Study Tips

Since 鈄 (tǒu) is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related words that pertain to drinks or containers, such as 杯 (bēi, cup) or 酒 (jiǔ, wine). Understanding this character can enhance your knowledge of traditional Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鈄 (tǒu) with similar characters like 投 (tóu). For example, saying '我想要一個投' (I want a throw) instead of '我想要一個鈄' (I want a flagon) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鈄

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Etymology of 鈄

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

A metal 釒 flask 斗; 斗 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鈄

  1. 1The giveawayA metal 釒 flask 斗; 斗 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 鈄? 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 鈄?

Decomposition of 鈄

IDS Structure⿰釒斗
鈄Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
斗Dou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鈄?

How to say wine flagon in Chinese

“wine flagon” in Chinese is鈄tǒu

The character 鈄 (tǒu) refers to a type of wine flagon, specifically a vessel used for storing or serving wine. It is often associated with traditional Chinese drinking culture, particularly during banquets or ceremonies where wine plays a central role. This character is less commonly used in modern contexts but retains historical significance.

When to use 鈄

This character is relatively rare and may not be commonly recognized in everyday conversation. When using it, ensure you are in a context related to wine or traditional ceremonies. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 投 (tóu), which means 'to throw.'

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鈄 (tǒu) with similar characters like 投 (tóu). For example, saying '我想要一個投' (I want a throw) instead of '我想要一個鈄' (I want a flagon) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 鈄

鈄

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

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Word Family of 鈄

Words Containing This Character1
钭tǒusurname Tou鈄
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 钭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鈄

No, 鈄 is a historical term and is rarely used in contemporary language.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鈄?

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