Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
桃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
桃táopeachHSK 5, ns, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #5527, Hard
桃táopeach; marriage; surnameHSK 5, ns, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #5527, Hard
táo(tao2)tao T2
  1. 1peach
  2. 2peach; marriage; surname
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

桃táo(tao2)

The character 桃 (táo) primarily means 'peach,' referring to the fruit known for its sweet taste and smooth skin. It is commonly used in culinary contexts and symbolizes prosperity and fertility in Chinese culture, often associated with marriage and good fortune.

Strokes10Radical木Frequency#5527DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the peach is often associated with longevity and immortality, particularly in mythology where the gods are said to feast on the 'Peaches of Immortality.' This reflects the belief that peaches bring happiness and blessings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, juicy peach (桃) sitting on a tree branch, with the sound 'táo' reminding you of the phrase 'towel'—as if you need a towel to wipe the juice off your chin while you eat it. The character resembles a tree with boughs (丶) holding up the fruit, symbolizing abundance.

Meanings of 桃

táo(tao2)
1peach
2peach; marriage; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 桃 means.

About 桃

桃Simplified
10Strokes
木Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#5527Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 桃

JasonAmy

Podcast: 桃

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 桃

Quick Contrast

杏 (xìng) - use 桃 (táo) for 'peach' specifically, while 杏 (xìng) refers to 'apricot,' a different fruit.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 桃 with other similar fruits in Chinese, such as 梨 (lí, pear) or 橙 (chéng, orange). The word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing food or cultural traditions. Common collocations include '桃子' (táozi, peach) and '桃花' (táohuā, peach blossom).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 桃 connects to other fruit-related vocabulary and symbols of good fortune. Students should focus on differentiating between fruits and their cultural significance, particularly in idiomatic expressions and marriage-related contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桃 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo, to escape) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember that 桃 relates specifically to the fruit and cultural connotations, while 逃 has a completely different meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桃

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 桃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 桃 to You

Let me explain 桃 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 桃 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 桃?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 桃 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 桃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 兆 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

tree

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

Origin

桃 = 木 + 兆. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 桃

IDS Structure⿰木兆
桃Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
兆Zhao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 桃?

How to say peach in Chinese

“peach” in Chinese is桃táo

The character 桃 (táo) primarily means 'peach,' referring to the fruit known for its sweet taste and smooth skin. It is commonly used in culinary contexts and symbolizes prosperity and fertility in Chinese culture, often associated with marriage and good fortune.

When to use 桃

Be careful not to confuse 桃 with other similar fruits in Chinese, such as 梨 (lí, pear) or 橙 (chéng, orange). The word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing food or cultural traditions. Common collocations include '桃子' (táozi, peach) and '桃花' (táohuā, peach blossom).

桃 or something close to it

杏 (xìng) - use 桃 (táo) for 'peach' specifically, while 杏 (xìng) refers to 'apricot,' a different fruit.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 桃 with similar-sounding characters like 逃 (táo, to escape) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember that 桃 relates specifically to the fruit and cultural connotations, while 逃 has a completely different meaning.

Write 桃

桃

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 桃

桃 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我能闻到瓜____熟透了的香甜味道。

I could smell the honeyed ripeness of melons and peaches.

Common Confusions with 桃

桃vs梅
méi

Both are fruit trees, but 桃 is a peach and 梅 is a plum.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “peach”?

or

Example Sentences for 桃 (16)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我能闻到瓜桃熟透了的香甜味道。

wǒ néng wén dào guā táo shú tòu le de xiāng tián wèi dào。

I could smell the honeyed ripeness of melons and peaches.
2
她看着他刨平一块胡桃木板。

tā kàn zháo tā páo píng yī kuài hú táo mù bǎn。

She watches him plane the surface of a walnut board.
3
韦斯特必须决定是否要出一张红桃。

wéi sī tè bì xū jué dìng shì fǒu yào chū yī zhāng hóng táo。

West had to decide whether to play a heart.
4
猕猴桃正是健康的小点心。

mí hóu táo zhèng shì jiàn kāng de xiǎo diǎn xīn。

Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.
5
凳子有几种尺寸,材质分胡桃木和红木两种。

dèng zǐ yǒu jī zhǒng chǐ cùn, , cái zhì fēn hú táo mù hé hóng mù liǎng。

The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.
6
这个地方叫桃花屯.

zhè gè dì fāng jiào táo huā tún.

This place was named Taohua Village.
7
他叫三个黑桃.

tā jiào sān gè hēi táo.

He bid three spades.
8
把核桃放在盐水里泡四五天。

bǎ hé táo fàng zài yán shuǐ lǐ pào sì wǔ tiān。

Soak the walnuts in brine for four or five days.
9
樱桃的颜色由近乎黑到黄各不相同.

yīng táo de yán sè yóu jìn hū hēi dào huáng gè bù xiāng tóng.

Cherries vary in colour from almost black to yellow.
10
红桃是主。

hóng táo shì zhǔ。

Hearts are trumps.
11
每年春天,这个村庄都会举办一场盛大的桃花节,吸引了大量游客。

Měinián chūntiān, zhège cūnzhuāng dūhuì jǔbàn yī chǎng shèngdà de táohuā jié, xīyǐnle dàliàng yóukè.

Every spring, this village hosts a grand peach blossom festival that attracts many tourists.
12
她用新鲜的桃子制作了一道美味的甜点,口感细腻而香甜。

Tā yòng xīnxiān de táozi zhìzuòle yī dào měiwèi de tiándiǎn, kǒugǎn xìnì ér xiāngtián.

She used fresh peaches to make a delicious dessert, which was delicate and sweet.
13
夏天的时候,我们常常去果园采摘桃子。

Xiàtiān de shíhou, wǒmen chángcháng qù guǒyuán cǎizhāi táozi.

In the summer, we often go to the orchard to pick peaches.
14
市场上有很多不同品种的桃子,各有风味。

Shìchǎng shàng yǒu hěnduō bùtóng pǐnzhǒng de táozi, gè yǒu fēngwèi.

There are many different varieties of peaches in the market, each with its own flavor.
15
我最喜欢在早餐时喝一杯新鲜的桃子汁。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuān zài zǎocān shí hē yī bēi xīnxiān de táozi zhī.

I love having a glass of fresh peach juice for breakfast.
16
这个菜里加入了桃子,使味道更加丰富。

Zhège cài lǐ jiārùle táozi, shǐ wèidào gèngjiā fēngfù.

This dish includes peaches, making the flavor more complex.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 桃?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 桃

Words Containing This Character20
桃táopeach
樱桃cherry櫻桃
桃花táohuāpeach blossom
核桃hétaowalnut
桃子peach
胡桃walnut
猕猴桃kiwi fruit獼猴桃
桃花运a romance桃花運
扁桃体tonsil扁桃體
世外桃源utopia
桃园Taoyuan city and county in Taiwan桃園
水蜜桃honey peach
蜜桃honey peach
黑桃spade ♠ (in card games)
桃色pink
桃红pink桃紅
桃源Taoyuan county in Changde 常德[Cháng​dé], Hunan
桃树táoshùpeach tree桃樹
山核桃hickory
桃花源utopia
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 桃

What does 樱桃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 桃

桃 refers to the peach in general, while 桃子 specifically means 'peach fruit.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 桃?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab