HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #1452, Very Hard
赌
dǔ
to gamble
HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #1452, Very Hard
赌
dǔ
to bet, to gamble, to wager
HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #1452, Very Hard
dǔ(du3) T3
1to bet
2to gamble
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March 24, 2026
赌(賭)dǔ(du3)
The character 赌 (dǔ) means 'to bet' or 'to gamble.' It is commonly used in contexts involving games of chance or risk, such as in casinos or sports betting. The word conveys an element of uncertainty and the potential for loss or gain.
Strokes12Radical贝Frequency#1452DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Gambling has a complex place in Chinese society, with traditional games like Mahjong being popular. The character 赌 reflects the cultural attitude toward risk-taking, which can be seen in both recreational activities and business dealings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a casino, nervously holding a poker chip ready to throw down a bet. The character 赌 resembles a person with a raised hand (the top part) poised to make a risky move, while the bottom part suggests the stakes involved.
Meanings of 赌
dǔ(du3)
1to bet
2to gamble
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 赌
赌Simplified
賭Traditional
12Strokes
贝Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1452Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 赌
Podcast: 赌
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AI Study Notes for 赌
Quick Contrast
押 (yā) — use 押 when referring to 'to stake' or 'to pledge' something as collateral, while 赌 specifically emphasizes the act of betting or gambling.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 赌 with other characters related to risk or uncertainty, such as 赔 (péi, to compensate). This word is informal and frequently used in conversational contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 赌钱 (dǔ qián, to gamble money) and 赌博 (dǔ bó, to gamble in general).
HSK Study Tips
While 赌 is not on the official HSK lists, it connects with HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to leisure activities and risk. Focus on understanding its usage in context, especially when discussing games or financial transactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'du' instead of 'dǔ,' which changes the meaning entirely. Additionally, mixing up赌 with related terms like 赌博 (gambling) can lead to confusion in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 赌
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Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賭.
1The meaning half贝 carries the sense.
2The sound half者 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymoney
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 赌? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 赌?
Decomposition of 赌
IDS Structure⿰贝者
赌Full Character
=
贝Bei4
left
者zhe3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 赌?
How to say to bet in Chinese
“to bet” in Chinese is赌dǔ
The character 赌 (dǔ) means 'to bet' or 'to gamble.' It is commonly used in contexts involving games of chance or risk, such as in casinos or sports betting. The word conveys an element of uncertainty and the potential for loss or gain.
When to use 赌
Learners often confuse 赌 with other characters related to risk or uncertainty, such as 赔 (péi, to compensate). This word is informal and frequently used in conversational contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 赌钱 (dǔ qián, to gamble money) and 赌博 (dǔ bó, to gamble in general).
赌 or something close to it
押 (yā) — use 押 when referring to 'to stake' or 'to pledge' something as collateral, while 赌 specifically emphasizes the act of betting or gambling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'du' instead of 'dǔ,' which changes the meaning entirely. Additionally, mixing up赌 with related terms like 赌博 (gambling) can lead to confusion in context.
Write 赌
赌
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Practice writing 赌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 赌
赌 carries 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
我敢打____迪安现在就在你办公室。
I'll lay odds that Dean is at your office right now.
