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驮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驮tuóto carry on one's backHSK 7, v, 6 strokes, radical 马, rank #36530, Very Hard
驮tuóload carried by a pack animalHSK 7, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 马, rank #36530, Very Hard
驮duòto carry on one's backHSK 7, v, 6 strokes, radical 马, rank #36530, Very Hard
驮duòload carried by a pack animalHSK 7, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 马, rank #36530, Very Hard
duò(duo4)duo
primary
T4
  1. 1to carry on one's back
  2. 2load carried by a pack animal
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March 24, 2026

驮(䭾)duò(duo4)

The character 驮 (duò) refers to the action of carrying something on one's back, typically associated with pack animals like horses or mules. It can also refer to the load itself that is being carried. This term is often used in contexts related to transportation or logistics, especially in rural or historical settings.

Strokes6Radical马Frequency#36530DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, pack animals played a crucial role in trade and transportation, especially in mountainous regions. The use of 驮 reflects the historical reliance on these animals for carrying goods in rural areas.

Memory tip

Imagine a donkey (an animal often used for carrying loads) with a heavy backpack on its back, trudging along a mountain path. The character 驮 looks like a donkey (the radical '马' means horse) carrying a burden, which helps you remember that it means to carry or to load something.

Meanings of 驮

duò(duo4)
primary
1to carry on one's back
2load carried by a pack animal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 驮

驮Simplified
䭾Traditional
6Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 驮

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Podcast: 驮

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AI study notes for 驮

Quick Contrast

驮 (duò) vs 背 (bēi) — use 驮 when specifically referring to carrying a load on the back of an animal, while 背 is more general and can refer to carrying something on one's own back.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 驮 with its variant 馱 (tuó), which can lead to incorrect pronunciations. This word is more likely to be used in formal contexts related to transportation or logistics rather than casual conversation. Pay attention to the pronunciation to avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 驮 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to HSK level 3 words that discuss transportation (like 车 'chē' for vehicle). Focus on understanding context and usage to enhance your vocabulary around logistics and travel.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驮 with 馱 (tuó) because of their similar meanings. Remember that 驮 is more commonly used for practical carrying contexts, while 馱 is more literary or formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驮

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Etymology of 驮

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

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 大 represents the sound. Simplified form of 馱.

Memory hint

horse

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

Origin

驮 = 马 + 大. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 驮

IDS Structure⿰马大
驮Full character
=
马Ma3
left
大da4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 驮?

How to say to carry on one's back in Chinese

“to carry on one's back” in Chinese is驮tuó

The character 驮 (duò) refers to the action of carrying something on one's back, typically associated with pack animals like horses or mules. It can also refer to the load itself that is being carried. This term is often used in contexts related to transportation or logistics, especially in rural or historical settings.

When to use 驮

Common mistakes include confusing 驮 with its variant 馱 (tuó), which can lead to incorrect pronunciations. This word is more likely to be used in formal contexts related to transportation or logistics rather than casual conversation. Pay attention to the pronunciation to avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding words.

驮 or something close to it

驮 (duò) vs 背 (bēi) — use 驮 when specifically referring to carrying a load on the back of an animal, while 背 is more general and can refer to carrying something on one's own back.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 驮 with 馱 (tuó) because of their similar meanings. Remember that 驮 is more commonly used for practical carrying contexts, while 馱 is more literary or formal.

Write 驮

驮

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

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Word Family of 驮

Words containing this character4
驮duòto carry on one's back䭾
驮马pack horse馱馬
驮子pack animal's load馱子
驮篓pannier馱簍
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 驮

What does 驮马 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 驮

It is pronounced as 'duò'.

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