short pause in reading aloud, equivalent to comma (also written 讀
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3127, Hard
逗
dòu
to entice, to tempt; to arouse, to stir
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3127, Hard
逗
dòu
short pause in reading aloud, equivalent to comma (also written 讀|读[dou4])
HSK 6, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3127, Hard
dòu(dou4)dou T4
1to stay
2to stop
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March 24, 2026
逗dòu(dou4)
The character 逗 (dòu) primarily means to tease or amuse someone, often through playful behavior or lighthearted banter. It can also refer to enticing or stirring emotions in someone. In a literary context, it represents a brief pause in reading, similar to a comma, which adds a playful tone to the text.
Strokes10Radical辶Frequency#3127DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, playful teasing among friends or family is a sign of affection and camaraderie, often seen in social gatherings and during celebrations. This behavior is considered a way to strengthen bonds.
Memory Tip
Imagine a playful dog (the left component '走' suggesting movement) that loves to stop and tease its owner with its antics. The sound 'dòu' can remind you of the dog's playful barking, making it memorable as you think of the dog enticing you to join in on the fun.
Meanings of 逗
dòu(dou4)
1to stay
2to stop
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 逗 means.
About 逗
逗Simplified
10Strokes
辶Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3127Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 逗
Podcast: 逗
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AI Study Notes for 逗
Quick Contrast
捉 (zhuō) vs 逗 (dòu) — use 逗 when implying teasing or playful amusement rather than just catching or seizing.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 逗 with similar characters like 读 (dú), which means 'to read.' This word is mostly informal and commonly used in conversations, especially when referring to playful teasing among friends. Be mindful of its tone, as the fourth tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 逗 connects with other verbs that describe actions, particularly those involving interaction and emotion. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe playful situations or teasing, enhancing their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 逗 in formal contexts where teasing is inappropriate. For instance, saying '逗你的老板' (dòu nǐ de lǎobǎn) to mean 'tease your boss' is inappropriate; use it in friendly settings instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 逗
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How Well Do You Know 逗?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 逗 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.
逗 = 辶 + 豆. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 逗
IDS Structure⿺辶豆
逗Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
豆dou4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 逗?
How to say to stay in Chinese
“to stay” in Chinese is逗dòu
The character 逗 (dòu) primarily means to tease or amuse someone, often through playful behavior or lighthearted banter. It can also refer to enticing or stirring emotions in someone. In a literary context, it represents a brief pause in reading, similar to a comma, which adds a playful tone to the text.
When to use 逗
Learners often confuse 逗 with similar characters like 读 (dú), which means 'to read.' This word is mostly informal and commonly used in conversations, especially when referring to playful teasing among friends. Be mindful of its tone, as the fourth tone can change the meaning entirely.
逗 or something close to it
捉 (zhuō) vs 逗 (dòu) — use 逗 when implying teasing or playful amusement rather than just catching or seizing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 逗 in formal contexts where teasing is inappropriate. For instance, saying '逗你的老板' (dòu nǐ de lǎobǎn) to mean 'tease your boss' is inappropriate; use it in friendly settings instead.
Write 逗
逗
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Practice writing 逗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 逗
逗 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 7 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
...
❝
他是逗我玩的。
tā shì dòu wǒ wán de.
He was teasing me.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build it
Put the words in order to say “He was teasing me.”.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 逗
逗vs豆
dòu
Same pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to stay”?
or
Usage Notes for 逗
Mixing up meaningsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 逗 with other verbs that have different meanings.
1
他一直在逗我。
He keeps teasing me.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他一直在____我。
He keeps teasing me.
Example Sentences for 逗 (10)
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1
你上次和他调情或挑逗他是什么时候？
nǐ shàng cì hé tā tiáo qíng huò tiāo dòu tā shì shí mó shí hòu？
