Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
逃táo(tao2)
The verb 逃 (táo) means to escape or to flee from a situation or location, often used in contexts involving danger or pursuit. It can also imply avoidance of responsibilities or difficulties, making it versatile in both literal and figurative uses.
Strokes9Radical辶Frequency#1086DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 逃 is often depicted in literature and cinema, where characters escape from oppressive situations, symbolizing a quest for freedom. This is particularly relevant in historical narratives about social injustice.
Memory Tip
Imagine a rabbit (兔) escaping from a hungry fox. The character 逃 looks like a rabbit running away from danger, emphasizing the act of fleeing. The pronunciation 'táo' sounds like 'towel,' which you might use to wipe away the sweat from running away in a panic!
Meanings of 逃
táo(tao2)
1to escape
2to run away
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 逃
逃Simplified
9Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1086Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 逃
Podcast: 逃
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 逃
Quick Contrast
逃 (táo) vs 躲 (duǒ) — choose 逃 when emphasizing escape from danger, while 躲 focuses on hiding or taking cover.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a rabbit (兔) escaping from a hungry fox. The character 逃 looks like a rabbit running away from danger, emphasizing the act of fleeing. The pronunciation 'táo' sounds like 'towel,' which you might use to wipe away the sweat from running away in a panic!
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 逃 with similar verbs like 跑 (pǎo, to run) or 逃避 (táobì, to evade), which has a more specific connotation of avoidance. 逃 is more direct in meaning and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in storytelling or discussions about escape scenarios.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 逃 connects with other verbs indicating movement or action, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) or 走 (zǒu, to go). Students should focus on using 逃 in various sentence structures to describe actions of fleeing in different contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 逃 is often depicted in literature and cinema, where characters escape from oppressive situations, symbolizing a quest for freedom. This is particularly relevant in historical narratives about social injustice.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 逃 when they mean to say 'to run' in a neutral sense. For instance, saying '我逃去商店' (wǒ táo qù shāngdiàn) meaning 'I escape to the store' is incorrect; it should be '我去商店' (wǒ qù shāngdiàn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 逃
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 逃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 逃 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 逃
逃 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
15岁的丹尼从地方当局的收容所____跑了。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
Example Sentences for 逃 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
15岁的丹尼从地方当局的收容所逃跑了。
15 15 suì de dān ní cóng dì fāng dāng jú de shōu róng suǒ táo pǎo。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
2
亚辛试图从警察手中逃脱时受了重伤。
yà xīn shì tú cóng jǐng chá shǒu zhōng táo tuō shí shòu le zhòng shāng。
Yasin had seriously hurt himself while trying to escape from the police.
He boasts of dodging military service by feigning illness.
10
他逃到了哥斯达黎加以逃避服兵役。
tā táo dào le gē sī dá lí jiā yǐ táo bì fú bīng yì。
He fled to Costa Rica to avoid military service.
Cultural Notes for 逃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 逃 is often depicted in literature and cinema, where characters escape from oppressive situations, symbolizing a quest for freedom. This is particularly relevant in historical narratives about social injustice.
Word Family of 逃
Words Containing This Character20
逃táoto escape
逃跑táopǎoto run away
逃避táobìto escape
逃走táozǒuto escape
逃离to run out逃離
逃脱to run away逃脫
逃亡táowángto flee
逃逸to escape
逃犯escaped criminal
逃生táoshēngto flee for one's life
在逃to be at large (of a criminal)
潜逃to abscond潛逃
逃命to escape
逃课to skip class逃課
逃窜to run away逃竄
出逃to run away
逃税to evade a tax逃稅
逃往to run away
逃兵army deserter
外逃to flee abroad
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 逃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 逃
Synonyms for 逃 (táo) include 逃避 (táobì), meaning 'to evade' or 'to avoid', and 逃跑 (táopǎo), which means 'to run away'. These words can be used interchangeably in many contexts, but may carry slightly different connotations.
You should use 逃 (táo) when referring to the act of escaping in a general sense, while 逃跑 (táopǎo) is more specific to the action of running away. For example, '他逃了' (tā táo le) simply means 'He escaped', whereas '他逃跑了' (tā táopǎo le) emphasizes the act of running away.
逃 (táo) means 'to escape' or 'to run away'. It is commonly used in contexts involving fleeing from danger or avoiding something unpleasant. For example, you might use it to describe escaping from a difficult situation or running away from an animal.
To use 逃 (táo) in a sentence, you can say '他逃了' (tā táo le), which means 'He escaped'. It can be combined with other words to provide more context, such as '逃跑' (táopǎo), meaning 'to run away'.
You can say, '他逃了' (tā táo le) meaning 'He escaped.' It can be used in various contexts to describe fleeing from danger or avoiding responsibilities.
It can be used in both formal and informal situations, but context matters—like in news reports or casual conversations.
Yes, 逃 can be used to describe avoiding responsibilities or difficult situations, such as '他逃避问题' (tā táobì wèntí) meaning 'He dodges problems.'
