Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
秃(禿)tū(tu1)
The character 秃 (tū) primarily means 'bald' or 'hairless,' often used to describe a person or an animal without hair, particularly on the head. Additionally, it can mean 'blunt' in a figurative sense, referring to objects that are not sharp or to speech that is direct and lacking subtlety.
Strokes7Radical禾Frequency#14592DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, baldness is often associated with aging or certain health conditions, and it can be a sensitive topic. The concept of being 'blunt' is also prominent in Chinese communication, where directness can be valued in specific contexts, especially among close friends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bald man (秃) standing under a bright sun, his shiny head reflecting the light. The character's radical '毛' (hair) is omitted, symbolizing the absence of hair, while '土' (earth) represents the solidity of his baldness. Picture him speaking bluntly about the weather, illustrating both meanings.
Meanings of 秃
tū(tu1)
1bald
2blunt
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 秃
秃Simplified
禿Traditional
7Strokes
禾Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#14592Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 秃
Podcast: 秃
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 秃
Quick Contrast
秃 (tū, bald) vs 光秃 (guāngtū, bare) — use 秃 for living beings or direct descriptions, while 光秃 emphasizes the absence of any covering or vegetation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bald man (秃) standing under a bright sun, his shiny head reflecting the light. The character's radical '毛' (hair) is omitted, symbolizing the absence of hair, while '土' (earth) represents the solidity of his baldness. Picture him speaking bluntly about the weather, illustrating both meanings.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when using 秃, as it can carry negative connotations if referring to a person's appearance. Common collocations include 秃头 (tū tóu, bald head) and 秃嘴 (tū zuǐ, bluntly spoken). Usage may vary in formality, so consider the context before using it casually.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 秃 connects with other descriptive adjectives and nouns. Focus on using it in various contexts, such as describing people or objects, to build a richer vocabulary. Practice its pronunciation and tones to ensure clarity in conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, baldness is often associated with aging or certain health conditions, and it can be a sensitive topic. The concept of being 'blunt' is also prominent in Chinese communication, where directness can be valued in specific contexts, especially among close friends.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 秃 with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying 头发秃 (tóu fà tū) instead of 秃头 (tū tóu) can be incorrect; the correct phrase emphasizes the baldness first.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 秃
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 秃 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 秃 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 秃
秃 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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 5
Complete the Sentence
他戴帽以遮斑____。
He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness.
Example Sentences for 秃 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他戴帽以遮斑秃。
tā dài mào yǐ zhē bān tū。
He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness.
2
这些年来他的前额已经有点秃了。
zhè xiē nián lái tā de qián é yǐ jīng yǒu diǎn tū le。
His hairline had receded slightly over the years.
3
他个头不高，秃顶，留着八字胡。
tā gè tóu bù gāo， ， tū， dǐng ， liú zháo bā。
He was short and bald and had a moustache.
4
他的秃头四周长着一圈灰白的头发.
tā de tū tóu sì zhōu cháng zháo yī quān huī bái de tóu fā.
A band of grey hair encircled his bald dome.
5
他的秃头顶四周长着一圈灰白的头发.
tā de tū tóu dǐng sì zhōu cháng zháo yī quān huī bái de tóu fā.
A band of gray hair encircled his bald dome.
6
一条肥大秃毛的老狗, 吓得急忙躲开.
yī tiáo féi dà tū máo de lǎo gǒu, , xià dé jí máng duǒ.
The old dog, obese and bald, escaped in fear.
7
这棵树 秃 了.
zhè kē shù tū.
The tree is leafless [ defoliate ] .
8
一群秃鹫蹲伏在一具野牛的尸体上。
yī qún tū jiù dūn fú zài yī jù yě niú de shī tǐ shàng。
A cluster of vultures crouched on the carcass of a dead buffalo.
9
她的手指甲都被咬秃了。
tā de shǒu zhǐ jiǎ dū bèi yǎo tū le。
Her fingernails are bitten to the quick.
10
你不发生危险,那我们秃鹰吃啥 呢 ?
nǐ bù fā shēng wēi xiǎn, , nà wǒ mén tū yīng chī shá?
What would our condors feed on if no one was in danger?
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 秃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, baldness is often associated with aging or certain health conditions, and it can be a sensitive topic. The concept of being 'blunt' is also prominent in Chinese communication, where directness can be valued in specific contexts, especially among close friends.
Word Family of 秃
Compounds2
颓tui2ruined, decayed; depressed; decadent
頽
Words Containing This Character8
秃tūbald禿
秃头baldness禿頭
秃顶bald head禿頂
秃子baldy禿子
秃鹰condor禿鷹
光秃秃bald光禿禿
秃鹫vulture禿鷲
秃发a branch of the Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 nomadic people禿發
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 颓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 秃
It can be used in both contexts, but be aware of the potential negative connotation when referring to someone's baldness.
Yes, it can also describe blunt objects or direct speech.
A common phrase is 秃头 (tū tóu), which means 'bald head'.
