HSK 5, ns, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #5527, Hard
桃
táo
peach; marriage; surname
HSK 5, ns, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #5527, Hard
táo(tao2) T2
1peach
2peach; marriage; surname
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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
Podcast: 桃
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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
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Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 兆 represents the sound.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half兆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaytree
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 桃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 桃?
Decomposition of 桃
IDS Structure⿰木兆
桃Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
兆Zhao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
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Practice writing 桃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Complete the Sentence
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
Spot the Difference
Which character means "peach"?
or
Example Sentences for 桃 (10)
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.
