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脱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
脱
tuō
to shed
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to take off
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to escape
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to get away from
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
脱
tuō
to take off, to shed; to escape from
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #987, Medium
tuō(tuo1)tuo T1
1to shed
2to take off
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March 24, 2026
脱(脫)tuō(tuo1)
The character 脱 (tuō) means to shed or take off something, such as clothing or an outer layer. It can also imply escaping or getting away from a situation, often used in contexts like '脱离' (tuōlí) which means to detach or break away from something. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and more formal contexts.
Strokes11Radical⺼Frequency#987DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of shedding is often associated with renewal or transformation, akin to spring cleaning or wardrobe changes for the new year. The act of removing old clothing or layers can symbolize letting go of the past.
Memory tip
Imagine a snake shedding its skin in a dramatic escape from a predator—this visual connects to 脱 (tuō) as the snake 'takes off' its old skin. The left side of the character 脚 (meaning 'foot') can remind you of stepping away or escaping, reinforcing the idea of shedding or taking off.
Meanings of 脱
tuō(tuo1)
1to shed
2to take off
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 脱
脱Simplified
脫Traditional
11Strokes
⺼Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#987Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 脱
Podcast: 脱
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AI study notes for 脱
Quick Contrast
脱 (tuō) vs 去 (qù) — use 脱 when emphasizing shedding or taking off, while 去 focuses on the action of going away.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 脱 with 脑 (nǎo), which means 'brain'; while both involve physical aspects, 脱 focuses on removal or escape. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in more casual conversation. Common collocations include 脱衣服 (tuō yīfu - to take off clothes) and 脱离 (tuōlí - to detach from).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 脱 connects well with other verbs related to actions and changes, such as 走 (zǒu - to walk) and 剪 (jiǎn - to cut). Students should focus on the different contexts where 脱 can be used, especially in terms of physical actions and metaphorical escapes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 脱 in contexts where 'removing' isn't applicable, like saying '我脱了我的头' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de tóu - I took off my head), which is nonsensical. The correct usage would be related to items of clothing or layers, such as '我脱了我的鞋' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de xié - I took off my shoes).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 脱
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 脱 is seven skills, not one.
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脱 = ⺼ + 兑. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 脱
IDS Structure⿰⺼兑
脱Full character
=
⺼rou4
left
兑Dui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 脱?
How to say to shed in Chinese
“to shed” in Chinese is脱tuō
The character 脱 (tuō) means to shed or take off something, such as clothing or an outer layer. It can also imply escaping or getting away from a situation, often used in contexts like '脱离' (tuōlí) which means to detach or break away from something. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and more formal contexts.
When to use 脱
Be careful not to confuse 脱 with 脑 (nǎo), which means 'brain'; while both involve physical aspects, 脱 focuses on removal or escape. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in more casual conversation. Common collocations include 脱衣服 (tuō yīfu - to take off clothes) and 脱离 (tuōlí - to detach from).
脱 or something close to it
脱 (tuō) vs 去 (qù) — use 脱 when emphasizing shedding or taking off, while 去 focuses on the action of going away.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 脱 in contexts where 'removing' isn't applicable, like saying '我脱了我的头' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de tóu - I took off my head), which is nonsensical. The correct usage would be related to items of clothing or layers, such as '我脱了我的鞋' (Wǒ tuōle wǒ de xié - I took off my shoes).
Write 脱
脱
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Grammar patterns of 脱
脱 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
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Cultural Notes for 脱
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, shedding one's old skin or habits is often associated with personal growth and transformation, similar to how snakes shed their skin.
Word Family of 脱
Words containing this character20
脱tuōto shed脫
摆脱bǎituōto break away from擺脫
脱离tuōlíto break away from脫離
逃脱táotuōto run away逃脫
解脱jiětuōto untie解脫
脱衣舞tuōyīwǔstriptease脫衣舞
脱光tuōguāngto strip naked脫光
脱身tuōshēnto get away脫身
脱落tuōluòto drop off脫落
脱颖而出tuōyǐng’érchūto rise above others脫穎而出
脱水tuōshuǐto dry out脫水
挣脱zhèngtuōto throw off掙脫
洒脱sǎtuonatural灑脫
脱下tuōxiàto take off (clothing)脫下
脱口而出tuōkǒu’érchūto blurt out脫口而出
脱节tuōjiéto come apart脫節
脱发tuōfàbaldness脫髮
脱手tuōshǒuto get rid of脫手
脱胎换骨tuōtāihuàngǔto turn over a new leaf脫胎換骨
脱掉tuōdiàoto remove脫掉
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 脱
What does 摆脱 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 脱
Yes, 脱 (tuō) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing clothing or actions related to removing something. It is also used metaphorically in contexts of escape or getting away from a situation. Understanding this character can enhance your conversational skills in Chinese.
You can use 脱 (tuō) in sentences like '我脱了外套' (Wǒ tuōle wàitào), which means 'I took off my coat.' Another example is '他逃脱了' (Tā táotuōle), meaning 'He escaped.' This character is versatile and can be applied in various situations involving removal or escape.
Some common phrases with 脱 include '脱衣服' (tuō yīfú), meaning 'to take off clothes,' and '脱离' (tuōlí), which means 'to detach' or 'to escape from.' These phrases illustrate the versatility of the character in both literal and figurative contexts.
脱 (tuō) means 'to shed,' 'to take off,' 'to escape,' or 'to get away from.' It can be used in various contexts, such as taking off clothing or shedding skin. This character is often found in phrases related to removal or escape.
You can say '我脱了外套' (Wǒ tuōle wàitào) which means 'I took off my coat.'
Yes, it can imply escaping from a situation, as in '他想要脱离这个环境' (Tā xiǎng yào tuōlí zhège huánjìng) meaning 'He wants to escape from this environment.'
Yes, words like 去 (qù - to go) can also express movement away from something, but 脱 specifically emphasizes removal or shedding.
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