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March 24, 2026
打交道dǎjiāodao(da3jiao1dao5)
打交道 means to come into contact with someone or to have dealings with them. This phrase is often used in the context of building relationships, networking, or interacting in a professional or social environment. It emphasizes the importance of personal connections in both business and everyday life in Chinese culture.
Strokes23Frequency#4171DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, networking and maintaining relationships (人际关系) are crucial for personal and professional success. 打交道 highlights the value placed on interpersonal connections and the importance of being sociable and approachable.
Memory Tip
Think of 打 (to hit) as making an initial contact and 交道 (to exchange paths) as the ongoing relationship. Imagine hitting the path with your foot to create a connection, reminding you that you are engaging with someone. The '打' sounds like 'da,' which can help you remember that you're making an effort to 'hit' it off with someone.
Meanings of 打交道
dǎjiāodao(da3jiao1dao5)
1to come into contact with
2to have dealings
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 打交道
打交道Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4171Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 打交道
Podcast: 打交道
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AI Study Notes for 打交道
Quick Contrast
交往 (jiāowǎng) vs 打交道 (dǎjiāodao): 交往 emphasizes a deeper, often more personal relationship, while 打交道 focuses on the act of dealing or interacting, often in a professional context.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone of your expression; 打交道 is usually informal but can also be used in formal contexts when discussing business relations. A common mistake is using it in contexts that imply deep personal relations; it's more about transactional or superficial interactions. Phrases like '和...打交道' (to deal with someone) are often used.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 打交道 connects well with other words related to relationships and communication, such as 交流 (jiāo liú, to communicate) and 关系 (guān xì, relationship). Focus on using it in sentences that describe your interactions with colleagues or acquaintances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly use 打交道 to imply a romantic relationship, which is not appropriate. Instead, use it strictly for casual or professional interactions, as in '我和他打交道' (I deal with him).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 打交道
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“to come into contact with” in Chinese is打交道dǎjiāodao
打交道 means to come into contact with someone or to have dealings with them. This phrase is often used in the context of building relationships, networking, or interacting in a professional or social environment. It emphasizes the importance of personal connections in both business and everyday life in Chinese culture.
When to use 打交道
Be cautious with the tone of your expression; 打交道 is usually informal but can also be used in formal contexts when discussing business relations. A common mistake is using it in contexts that imply deep personal relations; it's more about transactional or superficial interactions. Phrases like '和...打交道' (to deal with someone) are often used.
打交道 or something close to it
交往 (jiāowǎng) vs 打交道 (dǎjiāodao): 交往 emphasizes a deeper, often more personal relationship, while 打交道 focuses on the act of dealing or interacting, often in a professional context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly use 打交道 to imply a romantic relationship, which is not appropriate. Instead, use it strictly for casual or professional interactions, as in '我和他打交道' (I deal with him).
Write 打交道
打
交
道
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Grammar Patterns of 打交道
打交道 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 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
在现款方面，他们更愿意同散户____。
They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash.
