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鼗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼗táosmall revolving drum with knobsg, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
鼗táoa drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)unknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
鼗táorattle-drumunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
táo(tao2)tao T2
  1. 1small revolving drum with knobs
  2. 2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
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March 24, 2026

鼗táo(tao2)

The character 鼗 (táo) refers to a type of small drum, specifically a revolving drum with knobs or a rattle-drum often used by peddlers or as a toy. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese music and play, highlighting a playful aspect of culture and entertainment.

Strokes19Radical鼓
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, instruments like the 鼗 are often used in folk performances, especially during festivals or celebrations, symbolizing joy and community spirit. It connects to children's play and the vibrant atmosphere of street performances.

Memory tip

Imagine a small, colorful drum that spins around and makes noise when you turn it. The character 鼗 has the radical '鼓' which relates to drums, and the sound 'táo' can remind you of a child shouting 'ta-da!' when they spin the drum, making it a fun, celebratory sound.

Meanings of 鼗

táo(tao2)
1small revolving drum with knobs
2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 鼗

鼗Simplified
19Strokes
鼓Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼗

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Podcast: 鼗

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AI study notes for 鼗

Usage Notes

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, primarily used in specific contexts related to music or toys. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts rather than in modern spoken language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to other HSK words related to music or instruments. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the radicals and components of characters to enhance their understanding of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼗 with other characters related to drums, such as 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' in a more general sense. A common mistake is saying '鼓' when referring to a rattle-drum; instead, use '鼗' for that specific instrument.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼗

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Etymology of 鼗

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

drum

Semantic (meaning)鼓
+
Phonetic (sound)兆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鼗 = 鼓 + 兆. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鼗

IDS Structure⿱兆鼓
鼗Full character
=
兆Zhao4
top
鼓gu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鼗?

How to say small revolving drum with knobs in Chinese

“small revolving drum with knobs” in Chinese is鼗táo

The character 鼗 (táo) refers to a type of small drum, specifically a revolving drum with knobs or a rattle-drum often used by peddlers or as a toy. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese music and play, highlighting a playful aspect of culture and entertainment.

When to use 鼗

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, primarily used in specific contexts related to music or toys. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts rather than in modern spoken language.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼗 with other characters related to drums, such as 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' in a more general sense. A common mistake is saying '鼓' when referring to a rattle-drum; instead, use '鼗' for that specific instrument.

Write 鼗

鼗

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

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Word Family of 鼗

Words containing this character1
鼗táorattle-drum

Frequently asked questions about 鼗

The 鼗 is primarily used as a toy or in traditional music, often associated with children's entertainment.

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