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March 24, 2026
躲duǒ(duo3)
The verb 躲 (duǒ) means to hide or evade, often used in contexts where someone seeks to avoid detection or escape from a situation. It can refer to physical hiding as well as metaphorical avoidance, such as dodging responsibilities or uncomfortable situations.
Strokes13Radical身Frequency#1119DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, avoiding confrontation or conflict is often valued, making 躲 relevant in discussions about social interactions and relationships. For example, people might use 躲 to describe avoiding difficult conversations during family gatherings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person hiding behind a door (躲) to avoid being seen. The character 躲 has the radical for 'foot' (足) suggesting movement, and the top part resembles a person (that you can't see) who is 'dodging' behind something.
Meanings of 躲
duǒ(duo3)
1to hide
2to dodge
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 躲
躲Simplified
13Strokes
身Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1119Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 躲
Podcast: 躲
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AI Study Notes for 躲
Quick Contrast
躲 (duǒ) vs 逃 (táo) — use 躲 when focusing on hiding or evading detection, while 逃 emphasizes fleeing or escaping from a situation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person hiding behind a door (躲) to avoid being seen. The character 躲 has the radical for 'foot' (足) suggesting movement, and the top part resembles a person (that you can't see) who is 'dodging' behind something.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 躲 with other similar verbs like 逃 (táo, to escape) or 避 (bì, to avoid), which have slightly different nuances. 躲 is generally informal and can be used in casual conversations, but be mindful of the context to avoid sounding evasive when discussing responsibilities.
HSK Study Tips
Although 躲 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other verbs at HSK 3 and 4 that express movement or action, such as 走 (zǒu, to walk) and 跑 (pǎo, to run). Focus on using 躲 in sentences that illustrate both physical and metaphorical hiding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, avoiding confrontation or conflict is often valued, making 躲 relevant in discussions about social interactions and relationships. For example, people might use 躲 to describe avoiding difficult conversations during family gatherings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 躲 with 逃 (táo) and use it incorrectly in contexts that require escaping rather than hiding. For example, saying '我需要躲这件事' (I need to hide from this matter) might not convey the intended meaning if the context is about fleeing rather than hiding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 躲
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Grammar Patterns of 躲
躲 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 4 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.
Lewis desperately needs to keep clear of Ruddock's big left hook.
9
他在川流不息的人群中东躲西闪。
tā zài chuān liú bù xī de rén qún zhōng dōng duǒ xī shǎn。
He dodged amongst the seething crowds of men.
10
你怎么老躲着他?
nǐ zěn mó lǎo duǒ zháo tā?
Why do you keep avoiding him?
Cultural Notes for 躲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, avoiding confrontation or conflict is often valued, making 躲 relevant in discussions about social interactions and relationships. For example, people might use 躲 to describe avoiding difficult conversations during family gatherings.
Word Family of 躲
Words Containing This Character15
躲duǒto hide
躲避duǒbìto hide
躲开to avoid (sb)躲開
躲藏duǒcángto conceal oneself
躲闪to evade躲閃
闪躲to dodge閃躲
躲躲闪闪to evade躲躲閃閃
躲躲藏藏to be in hiding
躲债to dodge a creditor躲債
躲雨to take shelter from the rain
躲让to make way for躲讓
躲风lit. to avoid the wind躲風
躲避球dodgeball
躲难to take refuge躲難
躲年to dodge a creditor
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 躲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 躲
Yes, 躲 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing actions related to hiding or avoiding something. You'll often hear it in contexts like avoiding danger or hiding from someone.
Synonyms for 躲 include 隐藏 (yǐncáng), which means 'to conceal', and 避免 (bìmiǎn), meaning 'to avoid'. These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context.
躲 (duǒ) means 'to hide', 'to dodge', or 'to avoid'. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is trying to escape from something or someone, whether physically or metaphorically.
You can use 躲 in sentences such as '我躲在树后面' (I hid behind the tree) or '他躲避了这个问题' (He dodged that question). It's often used to describe actions taken to evade or escape.
躲 emphasizes hiding or dodging itself, while 避 focuses on the act of avoiding something, often in a more general sense.
It is generally used in informal contexts; for formal discussions, consider using 避免 (bìmiǎn, to avoid).
Think of 'duǒ' as 'door' - you hide behind a door to avoid being seen.
