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塔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
塔
tǎ
pagoda
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
塔
tǎ
tower
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
塔
tǎ
minaret
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
塔
tǎ
stupa (abbr. loanword from Sanskrit tapo)
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
塔
tǎ
tower, spire, tall building
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
塔
tǎ
old variant of 塔[tǎ]
HSK 6, j, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #1865, Hard
tǎ(ta3)ta T3
1pagoda
2tower
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March 24, 2026
塔tǎ(ta3)
The character 塔 (tǎ) refers to structures such as pagodas, towers, and minarets, often characterized by their height and significance in religious or cultural contexts. In modern usage, it can also denote any tall building or spire, frequently seen in urban landscapes. The term encapsulates both architectural style and cultural importance, especially in East Asian and Buddhist traditions.
Strokes12Radical土Frequency#1865DifficultyHard
Cultural note
塔 is integral to Chinese architecture, often seen in temples and historic sites, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. The pagoda, a specific type of 塔, holds significant spiritual meaning in Buddhism, representing the stupa that houses relics.
Memory tip
Imagine a tall tower (塔) reaching up into the sky. The character resembles a tower with a base and multiple levels, and you can remember the 't' sound in 'tower' connects to the 't' in 'tǎ'. Visualize yourself climbing up this tower to get a better view of the world, reinforcing both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 塔
tǎ(ta3)
1pagoda
2tower
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 塔 means.
About 塔
塔Simplified
12Strokes
土Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#1865Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 塔
Podcast: 塔
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AI study notes for 塔
Quick Contrast
塔 (tǎ) vs 楼 (lóu) — use 塔 when referring specifically to towers or pagodas, while 楼 denotes multi-story buildings or floors.
Usage Notes
When using 塔, be mindful of context; it is more commonly used in formal or literary settings when referring to historical or religious structures. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-looking characters such as 立 (lì, to stand), which conveys a different meaning. Note that the measure word for 塔 is 座 (zuò).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 塔 connects well with other vocabulary related to architecture and places, such as 城堡 (chéngbǎo, castle) and 大厦 (dàshà, mansion). Learners at this level should focus on understanding its usage in complex sentences and recognizing related idiomatic expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 塔 with similar characters like 塔 and 立. For example, saying '我去立 (lì) 塔' instead of '我去塔 (tǎ)' can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure to use the correct character according to the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 塔
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 塔 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.
塔 = 土 + 荅. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 塔
IDS Structure⿰土荅
塔Full character
=
土Tu3
left
荅da1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 塔?
How to say pagoda in Chinese
“pagoda” in Chinese is塔tǎ
The character 塔 (tǎ) refers to structures such as pagodas, towers, and minarets, often characterized by their height and significance in religious or cultural contexts. In modern usage, it can also denote any tall building or spire, frequently seen in urban landscapes. The term encapsulates both architectural style and cultural importance, especially in East Asian and Buddhist traditions.
When to use 塔
When using 塔, be mindful of context; it is more commonly used in formal or literary settings when referring to historical or religious structures. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-looking characters such as 立 (lì, to stand), which conveys a different meaning. Note that the measure word for 塔 is 座 (zuò).
塔 or something close to it
塔 (tǎ) vs 楼 (lóu) — use 塔 when referring specifically to towers or pagodas, while 楼 denotes multi-story buildings or floors.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 塔 with similar characters like 塔 and 立. For example, saying '我去立 (lì) 塔' instead of '我去塔 (tǎ)' can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure to use the correct character according to the intended meaning.
Write 塔
塔
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Practice writing 塔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 塔
塔 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我要把我的外套拿到楼上去。罗伯____，要我把你的也拿上去吗？
I'll take my coat upstairs. Shall I take yours, Roberta?
Example sentences for 塔 (10)
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1
我要把我的外套拿到楼上去。罗伯塔，要我把你的也拿上去吗？
wǒ yào bǎ wǒ de wàitào nádào lóushàng qù。 luō bà tǎ， yào wǒ bǎ nǐ de yě ná shàngqù ma？
I'll take my coat upstairs. Shall I take yours, Roberta?
2
桑塔格一直是那种兼具美貌与智慧的人中龙凤。
Sāng tǎ gé yìzhí shì nà zhǒng jiān jù měi mào yǔ zhìhuì de rén zhōng lóngfèng。
Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.
3
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴侣。
wǒ de māo gǔ Sī tǎ fū shì wǒ suǒyǒu de yíqiè—— wǒ wéiyī de bànlǚ。
My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
4
他们占用了塔楼的头两层。
tāmen zhànyòng le tǎ lóu de tóu liǎng céng。
They occupied the first two floors of the tower.
5
今天一早，一枚“德尔塔”Ⅱ型火箭在卡纳维拉尔角发射升空。
jīntiān yìzǎo， yī méi“ dé ěr tǎ”Ⅱ xíng huǒjiàn zài kǎ nà wéi lā ěr jiǎo fāshè shēng kōng。
A Delta II rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral early this morning.
6
灯塔的光束在渐浓的暮色中清晰可见。
dēng tǎ de guāng shù zài jiān nóng de mù sè zhōng qīngxī kějiàn。
The lighthouse beam was quite distinct in the gathering dusk.
Health officials have successfully confined the epidemic to the Tabatinga area.
8
肯塔基州北部可能有雨夹雪。
kěn tǎ jī zhōu běibù kěnéng yǒu yǔ jiā xuě。
Northern Kentucky is likely to get snow mixed with sleet.
9
你知道通向塔尔萨的公路吗？去机场的路和它交会。
nǐ zhīdào tōng xiàng tǎ ěr sà de gōnglù ma？ qù jīchǎng de lù hé tā jiāo huì。
Do you know the highway to Tulsa? The airport road joins it.
10
塔姆辛从她身旁冒了出来，且备好了笔记本。
tǎ mǔ Xīn cóng tā shēn páng mào le chūlái， qiě bèi hǎo le bǐjìběn。
Tamsin materialized at her side, notebook at the ready.
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Cultural Notes for 塔
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, towers may primarily serve functional or aesthetic purposes, while in Chinese culture, structures like pagodas have deep spiritual and historical significance, often serving as places of worship or meditation.
