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鼗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼗táosmall revolving drum with knobsg, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
鼗táoa drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)unknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
鼗táorattle-drumunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鼓
táo(tao2) T2
  1. 1small revolving drum with knobs
  2. 2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鼗táo(tao2)

The character 鼗 (táo) refers to a type of small drum, specifically a revolving drum with knobs or a rattle-drum often used by peddlers or as a toy. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese music and play, highlighting a playful aspect of culture and entertainment.

Strokes19Radical鼓
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, instruments like the 鼗 are often used in folk performances, especially during festivals or celebrations, symbolizing joy and community spirit. It connects to children's play and the vibrant atmosphere of street performances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, colorful drum that spins around and makes noise when you turn it. The character 鼗 has the radical '鼓' which relates to drums, and the sound 'táo' can remind you of a child shouting 'ta-da!' when they spin the drum, making it a fun, celebratory sound.

Meanings of 鼗

táo(tao2)
1small revolving drum with knobs
2a drum-shaped rattle (used by peddlers or as a toy)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼗

鼗Simplified
19Strokes
鼓Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼗

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鼗

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AI Study Notes for 鼗

Usage Notes

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, primarily used in specific contexts related to music or toys. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts rather than in modern spoken language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to other HSK words related to music or instruments. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the radicals and components of characters to enhance their understanding of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼗 with other characters related to drums, such as 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' in a more general sense. A common mistake is saying '鼓' when referring to a rattle-drum; instead, use '鼗' for that specific instrument.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼗

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Etymology of 鼗

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

drum

Semantic (meaning)鼓
+
Phonetic (sound)兆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鼗

  1. 1The meaning half鼓 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydrum
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鼗? 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 鼗?

Decomposition of 鼗

IDS Structure⿱兆鼓
鼗Full Character
=
兆Zhao4
top
鼓gu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼗?

How to say small revolving drum with knobs in Chinese

“small revolving drum with knobs” in Chinese is鼗táo

The character 鼗 (táo) refers to a type of small drum, specifically a revolving drum with knobs or a rattle-drum often used by peddlers or as a toy. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese music and play, highlighting a playful aspect of culture and entertainment.

When to use 鼗

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, primarily used in specific contexts related to music or toys. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts rather than in modern spoken language.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼗 with other characters related to drums, such as 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' in a more general sense. A common mistake is saying '鼓' when referring to a rattle-drum; instead, use '鼗' for that specific instrument.

Write 鼗

鼗

Practice writing 鼗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鼗

Words Containing This Character1
鼗táorattle-drum
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鼗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼗

The 鼗 is primarily used as a toy or in traditional music, often associated with children's entertainment.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鼗?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.