Meanings of 打
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About 打
Podcast: 打
Podcast: 打
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AI Study Notes for 打
打 (dǎ) vs 拍 (pāi) — use 打 for striking or hitting, while 拍 specifically refers to actions like clapping or slapping.
Often confused with other action verbs, learners should be careful not to use 打 in contexts where other verbs might be more appropriate, such as 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') versus simply using 打 (dá) for hitting. It's informal, so avoid using it in very formal writing or speech.
打 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels but is foundational for beginners. It connects to many other verbs like 玩 (wán, 'to play') and 说 (shuō, 'to speak'), allowing learners to form compound verbs like 打球 (dǎ qiú, 'to play ball'). Focus on its uses in daily conversation to build fluency.
Learners often confuse 打 with other similar verbs like 拍 (pāi, 'to slap') or 敲 (qiāo, 'to knock'). For example, saying '我拍球' instead of '我打球' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我打球' (Wǒ dǎ qiú, 'I play ball').
Pronunciation of 打
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Jason Explains 打 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 打 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 打
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.
hand
Origin
打 = 扌 + 丁. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 打
Parts
Which of these is part of 打?
How to say to beat in Chinese
“to beat” in Chinese is打
The character 打 (dá) primarily means 'to hit' or 'to strike', and it is used in various contexts such as physical actions (like hitting a ball) and metaphorical uses (like typing on a keyboard). It's a versatile verb that can convey actions ranging from fighting to creating or building, making it common in both everyday and formal speech.
When to use 打
Often confused with other action verbs, learners should be careful not to use 打 in contexts where other verbs might be more appropriate, such as 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') versus simply using 打 (dá) for hitting. It's informal, so avoid using it in very formal writing or speech.
打 or something close to it
打 (dǎ) vs 拍 (pāi) — use 打 for striking or hitting, while 拍 specifically refers to actions like clapping or slapping.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 打 with other similar verbs like 拍 (pāi, 'to slap') or 敲 (qiāo, 'to knock'). For example, saying '我拍球' instead of '我打球' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我打球' (Wǒ dǎ qiú, 'I play ball').
Write 打
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Practice writing 打 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 打
打 carries 19 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我喜欢看电视，弟弟喜欢____球。
I like watching TV; my younger brother likes playing ball.
Example Sentences for 打 (16)
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Word Family of 打
Characters with 打
What does 咑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 打
Yes, 打 can be used figuratively, such as in expressions like 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà, 'to make a phone call') or 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohū, 'to greet').
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