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捅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
捅
tǒng
to jab, to poke
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3544, Very Hard
捅
tǒng
to stab
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3544, Very Hard
捅
tǒng
to prod
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3544, Very Hard
捅
tǒng
to nudge
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3544, Very Hard
捅
tǒng
to disclose
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3544, Very Hard
tǒng(tong3)tong T3
1to jab, to poke
2to stab
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March 24, 2026
捅tǒng(tong3)
The character 捅 (tǒng) means to jab or poke something with a pointed object. It is commonly used in contexts where one physically prods or nudges an object or person, but it can also refer to disclosing information or secrets. The nuance of this character implies a forceful or sudden action.
Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#3544DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of poking or prodding can also metaphorically refer to pushing someone to reveal secrets or truths, reflecting the value of honesty in interpersonal relationships. This character might appear in contexts discussing gossip or social dynamics.
Memory tip
Imagine poking a balloon with a sharp object—when you do, it pops! The character 捅 looks like a hand (扌) jabbing down onto a surface, symbolizing the action of poking. The pronunciation 'tǒng' can remind you of 'tongue,' as if your tongue is prodding for information.
Meanings of 捅
tǒng(tong3)
1to jab, to poke
2to stab
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 捅
捅Simplified
10Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 捅
Podcast: 捅
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AI study notes for 捅
Quick Contrast
捅 (tǒng) vs 刺 (cì) — use 捅 for a more forceful or sudden jab, while 刺 implies a piercing action.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 捅 with similar verbs that imply gentle actions, as 捅 is more forceful. This word can be used in both informal and formal contexts, but caution is advised when using it in a serious conversation about sensitive topics, as it may imply aggression. Common collocations include 捅破 (to poke through) and 捅人 (to poke someone).
HSK Study Tips
Although 捅 is not an HSK word, it can still be useful for learners at the intermediate level. Focus on its usage in both physical and metaphorical contexts, and try to connect it with other actions that involve movement or force, such as 打 (to hit) and 推 (to push).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 捅 to mean gentle poking, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我想轻轻地捅一下' (I want to gently poke) is incorrect; instead, use a word like 触碰 (chù pèng) for gentle contact.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 捅
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Knowing 捅 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.
捅 = 扌 + 甬. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 捅
IDS Structure⿰扌甬
捅Full character
=
扌shou3
left
甬tong3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 捅?
How to say to jab, to poke in Chinese
“to jab, to poke” in Chinese is捅tǒng
The character 捅 (tǒng) means to jab or poke something with a pointed object. It is commonly used in contexts where one physically prods or nudges an object or person, but it can also refer to disclosing information or secrets. The nuance of this character implies a forceful or sudden action.
When to use 捅
Be careful not to confuse 捅 with similar verbs that imply gentle actions, as 捅 is more forceful. This word can be used in both informal and formal contexts, but caution is advised when using it in a serious conversation about sensitive topics, as it may imply aggression. Common collocations include 捅破 (to poke through) and 捅人 (to poke someone).
捅 or something close to it
捅 (tǒng) vs 刺 (cì) — use 捅 for a more forceful or sudden jab, while 刺 implies a piercing action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 捅 to mean gentle poking, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我想轻轻地捅一下' (I want to gently poke) is incorrect; instead, use a word like 触碰 (chù pèng) for gentle contact.
Write 捅
捅
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Practice writing 捅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 捅
捅 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 5 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
约翰冲着他们笑了笑，开玩笑地____了理查德一下。
John smiled at them and gave Richard a playful poke.
Example sentences for 捅 (9)
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1
约翰冲着他们笑了笑，开玩笑地捅了理查德一下。
yāo hàn chōng zhe tāmen xiào le xiào， kāiwánxiào dì tǒng le lǐ chá dé yíxià。
John smiled at them and gave Richard a playful poke.
2
请别用那把伞捅我.
qǐng bié yòng nà bǎ sǎn tǒng wǒ.
Please don't thrust at me with that umbrella.
3
她应当知道不该用伞去捅动物.
tā yīngdāng zhīdào bù gāi yòng sǎn qù tǒng dòngwù.
She should know better than to poke the animal with her umbrella.
4
她用伞捅了那男子一下.
tā yòng sǎn tǒng le nà nánzǐ yíxià.
She gave the man a prod with her umbrella.
5
暴徒恐吓受害者说如果他不把所有的钱都交出来,就捅死他.
bào tú kǒnghè shòuhài zhě shuō rúguǒ tā bù bǎ suǒyǒu de qián dōu jiāo chūlái, jiù tǒng sǐ tā.
The ruffian threatened to run his victim through if he did not hand over all his money.
6
该不会是有人在背后捅了他一刀吧?
gāi bù huì shì yǒurén zài bèihòu tǒng le tā yī dāo ba?
A knife in his back as like as not.
7
有人朝他肚子上捅了一刀。
yǒurén cháo tā dùzi shàng tǒng le yī dāo。
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach.
8
那个大汉一刀就把岗哨捅倒了.
nàge dà hàn yī dāo jiù bǎ gǎng shào tǒng dào le.
The bigman stabbed at the guard with a knife.
9
她用手指捅了捅他的腰。
tā yòng shǒuzhǐ tǒng le tǒng tā de yāo。
She jabbed him in the ribs with her finger.
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Word Family of 捅
Words containing this character3
捅tǒngto stab
捅娄子to make a mess of sth捅婁子
捅马蜂窝to poke through a hornets' nest捅馬蜂窩
Exercise 1 of 2
Words with 捅
What does 捅娄子 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 捅
Some synonyms include 插 (chā, to insert) and 挤 (jǐ, to squeeze), but remember that 捅 tends to imply a more forceful action.
Yes, 捅 can be used to describe the act of poking someone to reveal information or secrets.
捅 is generally informal, so it's best used in casual conversations rather than formal settings.
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